Qiagen N.V., a prominent German player in the life sciences tools sector known for its molecular diagnostics expertise, is currently reassessing its strategic direction in light of renewed acquisition interest. The company has engaged financial advisers while its supervisory board evaluates preliminary approaches from various potential suitors.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate that Qiagen has initiated discussions with multiple interested parties, a number of which are strategic buyers based in the United States. These talks remain in early stages, and there is no definitive assurance that they will lead to any formal transaction.
This strategic review occurs at a critical juncture for Qiagen, following an announcement in November 2025 that Chief Executive Officer Thierry Bernard planned to step down once a successor is appointed. This leadership transition is regarded as potentially removing a significant barrier that had previously dampened acquisition prospects.
Qiagen's journey toward a sale or strategic partnership has been marked by several notable attempts over the past few years. After the October 2019 announcement that then-CEO Peer Schatz would depart, Qiagen attracted heightened takeover interest. One of the most high-profile pursuits was by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., which agreed in 2020 to pursue an acquisition deal valued around $12 billion.
However, the Thermo Fisher bid ultimately failed, largely due to resistance from an activist investor that prevented the acquiring company from securing enough shareholder support to complete the tender offer. This outcome was a significant setback in Qiagen's efforts to find a definitive suitor.
Undeterred, Qiagen embarked on further strategic evaluations. In 2021, it examined the possibility of merging with BioMérieux, a major French player in the diagnostics space. That planned combination, which would have united two substantial European diagnostics providers, did not come to fruition.
The following year, in 2022, conversations surfaced suggesting that Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. engaged in talks regarding a potential merger with Qiagen. Nevertheless, that initiative also failed to materialize into a consummated deal.
Qiagen’s financial performance shows stability amid these strategic considerations. For the third quarter, the company reported adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share, edging out the consensus estimate of 59 cents. Revenue for the period reached $533 million, slightly surpassing forecasts of approximately $526 million.
Reflecting this robust performance, Qiagen raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance from $2.35 to $2.38, positioning it just above the consensus estimate of $2.37. The company maintained its revenue outlook between $2.057 billion and $2.077 billion, which sits slightly below the consensus projection of $2.082 billion.
Regarding near-term prospects, Qiagen anticipates fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, which trails marginally behind the consensus expectation of 61 cents.
In addition to the strategic deliberations on potential sale, Qiagen in November 2025 completed the acquisition of Parse Biosciences. Parse specializes in scalable, instrument-free solutions targeting single-cell research. The upfront payment for this transaction amounted to roughly $225 million, with additional milestone-based payments possibly forthcoming.
Following news of the renewed buyer interest and corporate developments, Qiagen’s shares experienced mixed trading sentiment. On Tuesday, the stock closed up 16.57% at $55.45. However, premarket activity on Wednesday reflected a decline of 4.09%, bringing the share price to $53.18.