DIVERSA is able to influence the entire drug development value chain thanks to a business model based on three fundamental pillars: the sale of ready-to-use laboratory reagents for initial validation and proof-of-concept testing, aimed at researchers and clinical research organisations (CROs), the establishment of new drug development and licensing agreements, aimed at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that want to advance their molecules to the clinic, and the company's own R&D in innovative nanomedicines.

A clear example of a successful case of knowledge transfer from the university to the market, DIVERSA was founded by the researchers María de la Fuente and Abi Vázquez and the head of the Oncology Service of the CHUS, Rafael López, with the involvement of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of FIDIS. "We identified a need and wanted to respond to it by creating DIVERSA, applying for funding and bringing the results of our research to the market," says Abi Vázquez, one of its co-founders and Chief Operating Officer.

Its commitment to providing solutions to unmet medical needs is a fundamental part of the company's area of activities, which focus on the development of mRNA-based nanomedicines, participation in R&D&I projects in collaboration with public institutions working in the field of immuno-oncology (CIMA), vaccines against tuberculosis (Catholic University of Lisbon) and rare metabolic diseases (National Biotechnology Centre).

Ignicia Programme Support

From design and validation to transfer, the development of the DIVERSA technology has involved years of work at the Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit of IDIS and Sergas. The funding provided by the Regional Government of Galicia's Ignicia Programme in 2019 was key to carrying out this transfer of research results and the creation of DIVERSA, "within the framework of the Ignicia Project, products were developed, an intellectual property strategy was drawn up and a strategic plan for value creation and incentives for private investors was outlined," says Vázquez.

Despite its recent incorporation, DIVERSA's work has already been recognised on several occasions, such as the Ricardo Bescansa Martínez Award from the Royal Galician Academy of Sciences (RAGC) as a case of successful technology transfer, the Local Employment Award (PIEL) for the Best Business Initiative from the Provincial Council of A Coruña, the Galician Excellence Award in the category of New Entrepreneurs from the Association of Galician Entrepreneurs in Catalonia (Aega-Cat) or the recognition of the spin-off punto gal.

This Santiago-based company, at the forefront of biotechnology and nanomedicine, aims to become a benchmark in the development of new therapies that can improve people's lives in terms of precision medicine. In the short term, DIVERSA's objectives for the coming years include becoming a leader in the drug delivery sector, consolidating its position in the laboratory reagents market, entering new markets and launching new reagent products to cover the entire therapeutic spectrum.