PCR Technology Enhances Disease Prevention, Treatment

Q: What led to the creation of DNA Technology and how does it contribute to the healthcare sector?

A: The company was founded in 1993 . At the time, we invited highly qualified specialists from Russia’s Institute of Immunology and the Institute of High Energy Physics to participate. Russia needed technologies that would help diagnose diseases and improve treatment for patients. We now produce PCR equipment and related technologies. We not only focus on infectious diseases, but also on genetic diseases. For example, we can assist patients in having healthy babies by helping them identify healthy embryos. Pregnancies can later be monitored with other techniques to ensure smooth development and healthy babies without problematic genetic issues. This is also key for future generations. 

We work closely with many scientific organizations and hospitals, conducting significant scientific research to develop the products that clinicians truly need. Our work is driven by clinical demand rather than purely market demand. Our main goal is to bring solutions that will improve the lives of patients and provide a better future.

Q: How do your solutions enhance healthcare practices?

A: There are many solutions that can transform healthcare. For example, one of the main global challenges is the appropriate use of antibiotics. We have developed technology that allows antibiotic screening to identify the correct antibiotic quickly. Other culture-based methods take about a week, because bacteria must be grown and analyzed before determining which antibiotic is effective. However, in emergency situations, doctors often cannot wait, so they prescribe antibiotics based on limited information. This can be risky.

Our technology provides the exact answer in just three hours. In addition, we offer products that can indicate when antibiotics are not required at all, since in some cases other treatments may be even more effective. Antibiotics disrupt the microbiome, which is essential. A healthy microbiome is connected to many functions of the body. When antibiotics erase good bacteria, restoring healthy strains is critical. Therefore, our solutions provide clinicians with instruments to better manage these challenges. We offer products and solutions for all stages of life. Even in the final stages of life, quality and health remain important.

Q: How is DNA Technology helping to advance research into the microbiome?

A: We conducted scientific studies confirming that the gut microbiome is directly connected to the brain. A healthy microbiome supports a healthy brain and proper development. For example, a link between autism and abnormalities in the gut microbiome has been observed. 

The genetic examination of every newborn would allow for the identification of possible genetic diseases early. Some diseases unfortunately cannot be treated, but many can be addressed if diagnosed from birth. Early intervention makes it possible for children to grow up healthy and for the government to reduce healthcare costs significantly. Recently, we screened 8,000 newborns and discovered new mutations that had not previously been described. We are now working to characterize these mutations and understand their impact.

Q: How accessible is this technology, and what measures are necessary to make it more accessible?

A: This technology is widely accessible. PCR technology has existed since the last century, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone became aware of its importance. The pandemic demonstrated globally how precise PCR can be.

PCR is available even in rural villages of developing countries. Using our expertise, we have helped establish laboratories, and trained specialists to use this technology effectively, thereby strengthening national healthcare systems. Accessibility will increase further in the future. A healthy population is more productive, and governments benefit when they spend less on healthcare because preventive and precise solutions are already in place.

Q: What opportunities have you identified in Mexico, and what is your vision for the country?

A: We entered Latin America several years ago, and step by step we came to understand its market potential. We developed a significant business in Brazil, and now see Mexico as the strategic next step, also it can also be a gateway to the United States and Canada.

The Mexican market is similar to the Brazilian market, and in some ways even larger. However, while Mexico has access to reliable technology, prices are quite high. In Russia, strong domestic competition pushed our prices lower, while maintaining quality high. We are now on the same technological level as companies such as Abbott, Bayer, Roche, and Qiagen, but with significantly lower prices. Therefore, our plan is not to increase prices for the Mexican market, but rather to maintain our standard pricing, making advanced technology more accessible to Mexican patients. Our company is not driven simply by profit. Our goal is to ensure the availability of our technology to improve lives.

Q: How will the company expand its footprint in Mexico?

A: Our strategy, as we did in Brazil, is to collaborate first with local scientific leaders, conduct joint research, and publish scientific work that demonstrates the value of our technology. This builds trust and credibility. We will also look for partners in Mexico. The country is highly developed and closely connected with the United States. There is even openness to local manufacturing, which we consider promising.

DNA Technology is a Russian company that manufactures Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment and kits.