DIANA Biotechnologies invested 20M EUR to research and development activities

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Petr Kašík

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DIANA Biotechnologies invested 20M EUR to research and development activities

29th November, 2022


The DIANA Biotechnologies Group made a record CZK 926.8 million last year. This is a 335% increase compared to 2020, when the DIANA Lab and DIANA Engineering subsidiaries did not yet exist. The company reported a consolidated net profit of CZK 580.3 million for 2021, has grown to almost 100 employees and is expanding further. Thanks to its development, it was awarded in the prestigious Deloitte Fast 50 competition as the fastest growing project in the Companies to Watch category in Central and Eastern Europe


The management of DIANA Biotechnologies wants to continue its bold investments in cutting-edge research, focus on international expansion, expand its portfolio and gradually build a pharmaceutical and diagnostic company with a global reach. It will invest approximately half a billion crowns in development and expansion in the coming years.


"Our three main pillars are the development of highly sensitive molecular diagnostics, the development of antibodies for both diagnostics and therapy, and the development of original low molecular weight drugs. Our development of the revolutionary PCR assays for covid-19 has meant a huge expansion of the molecular diagnostics division, which now accounts for a major part of our revenues and which we intend to continue to develop to become a major global player in PCR diagnostics. We plan further investments in research and development of our unique PCR technologies, expansion of our product portfolio and development of our own diagnostic instruments," says CEO Václav Navrátil.


The company delivered over six million PCR tests to laboratories in 2020 and 2021, generating a record CZK 926.8 million in 2021. The newly established subsidiaries DIANA Lab, s r.o. and DIANA Engineering, s r.o. also contributed to the business results for the first time.


"During 2020, we developed and launched systems for automated PCR testing for covid-19 from both swabs and saliva, enabling laboratories to test over a thousand samples per day as early as 2020, and later over ten thousand samples per day. The tests were


cost-effective, and also enabled the detection of all major variants of the virus. Together with the laboratories, we were thus able to detect the spread of variants early and predict future developments. Our early warning of the British variant prevented a probable overload of hospitals and at least a thousand more deaths," says Martin Dienstbier, CFO and COO of DIANA Biotechnologies.


"Our tests have revolutionised PCR testing for covid-19 in the Czech Republic. They were also competent in international comparisons, but for capacity reasons we were forced to prioritise supply to the Czech market and are only now starting to expand abroad. However, we are convinced that we will soon be able to establish ourselves on the world market thanks to the other new technologies we are currently working on. The half-billion-dollar investment in further research and development that we are planning in the coming years will help us to do this," adds Martin Dienstbier.

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In addition to the development of PCR tests, the company continued other long-term projects during the covida pandemic, albeit in a partially subdued mode. The development of drugs and partly the development of antibodies is based on DIANA technology, which was invented by the company's CEO Václav Navrátil. "The DIANA method enables extremely sensitive detection of proteins, but it is also a very efficient platform for the search for biologically active substances, especially enzyme inhibitors, which can become candidate substances for drugs. The company's main focus for now is in the areas of infectious diseases and oncology. However, drug development takes many years and can involve many billions of crowns. It is therefore a bold long-term vision that needs funding. At least for the initial phases, we are now in a position to provide this," says Václav Navrátil. DIANA Biotechnologies cooperates on projects for the development of oncology agents, for example, with the CEITEC centre in Brno.+420734513384

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The overall growth of 100,314% in just two years means not only winning this year's Deloitte Fast 50 Companies to watch in Central and Eastern Europe, but also an absolute record in the 23-year history of the competition. "This meteoric growth has been made possible by a unique product that has been in huge demand. The fact that we were able to develop and produce such a product in sufficient quantities is thanks to the top professionals in the company who brought diverse expertise from chemical, biological, medical, IT and engineering fields as well as business experience, but also to the intensive work of employees in all divisions of the company and their ability to help each other. I would therefore like to thank all employees for their key contributions. At the same time, I would like to point out that we are always looking for new colleagues and we offer a unique opportunity to realize not only in research in the environment of an innovative biotech company, which is unparalleled in the Czech Republic," concludes Václav Navrátil.


Media contact:

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Petr Kašík+420734513384

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About DIANA Biotechnologies


DIANA Biotechnologies, a.s. is a Czech biotechnology company with strong in-house research and development. The company was founded in 2018 with the aim to develop applications of the patented DIANA technology in diagnostics and drug development. However, the company's portfolio is now significantly broader. It is currently targeting global markets in three main areas: 1) development and production of PCR products for diagnostics and life science, 2) development of proprietary original low molecular weight drugs and provision of services to the pharmaceutical sector, and 3) development of antibodies for diagnostics and therapeutics. In the field of molecular diagnostics, the company has become the largest Czech manufacturer of PCR tests for COVID-19 and other viral diseases and is now making its mark abroad thanks to its innovations in PCR diagnostics. The company is built on a team of top scientists with unique expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, organic and medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and laboratory automation. DIANA Biotechnologies aims to become a multinational biotechnology company developing its own original diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. For more information about the company, please continue to www.dianabiotech.com


DIANA Biotechnologies: Research Driven Business