Following successful negotiations, the prosperous and healthy part of Pliva Lachema - Pliva Lachema diagnostika, a company located at Brno in Czech Republic and operating in the area of In Vitro Diagnostic products, was acquired by ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH. ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH also ope rates in the field of In Vitro Diagnostics using distribution network of its Group, in over 60 countries in the world.  For about 125 employees of Pliva Lachema diagnostika and its Russian subsidiary, it provides them security and an exciting opportunity for their career growth along with successful development of the company.

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ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH, a German company based in Mannheim, supplies diagnostic products to more than 60 countries worldwide..

PLIVA-Lachema Diagnostika was established in 2005 after the diagnostic business was spun off byPLIVA-Lachema a.s., a pharmaceutical company. It operates in the branch of development, production and marketing of products for In Vitro Diagnostics consisting of products for urine analysis, biochemistry and microbiology. Its tradition reaches back to 1960s and it is a successor of the diagnostic production portfolio of the former Lachema, a state-owned enterprise. Lachema Diagnostika is currently a major player in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Together with its subsidiary Zao Lachema International based at Moscow, Russia, it employs 125 people. PLIVA-Lachema Diagnostika was part of the acquisition of the Barr-PLIVA Group, an integral part of ownership of the TEVA Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli group of companies that focuses on generic pharmaceuticals. Due to its different overall product portfolio, TEVA decided to find a new owner for this prosperous and healthy part of Pliva Lachema.

Pliva Lachema diagnostika with its extensive marketing and distribution network in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and its product line, adequately complement the current market potential and product line of the new owner. In addition to the possibilities of creating synergy, ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH appreciates the product know-how of Lachema as well as the potential of its certified manufacturing procedures and top-quality development background that serves as an important basis for further development and growth of Lachema.

“We regard the acquisition as a great opportunity for our products to enter both the markets in Western Europe and dynamically developing markets in Asia and South America through the strong distribution network of ERBA Group. Furthermore, our current customers in Central and Eastern Europe will have access to ERBA Group’s extensive product range in Clinical Chemistry, Immunoturbidimetry and Immunology products. This basket of products of Lachema and ERBA will be definitely appreciated by our business partners and customers alike,” claims Jaroslav Řehůřek, Managing Director of the company.

In addition to development in the area of manufacturing of the current products, ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH plans to increase the development capacities of Lachema in the coming months to increase the current manufacturing capabilities and add new products in the medium-term time horizon. In spite of the global financial crisis, ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim plans to invest more than CZK 20 million in our company as early as in the first year.