Qiagen recently acquired technology for point of need testing (PON ie diagnostic test can be performed on patient independent of a laboratory in the field) and if this could be applied successfully to TB IGRA testing it would be a major step forward. As I understand it, the patents and IP rights of Cellestis would be no barrier to this happening after 2013. I had always assumed that CST was working on a PON test (this would explain their fingerprick sample patent), but perhaps it is not going well, or is threatened by the Qiagen technology. A PON TB IGRA test would be very effective competition against the skin test, because the main current advantage of the skin test is it does not depend on a laboratory.
Obviously, there would be quite a lag before such a test would be on the market and I am not saying that this justifies current developments, but possibly sheds some light.
I must say I don't understand how it is in the best interests of shareholders for them not to be able to solicit higher bids. And how does that options caper involving Qiagen benefit us?
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