Djokovic holds major stake in firm developing Covid drug: CEO

  Novak Djokovic (AFP file photo)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, recently deported from Australia due to his coronavirus vaccine status, is co-founder and majority shareholder of a biotech firm developing a Covid-19 treatment, the Danish company’s CEO said Wednesday.

“He is one of the founders of my company we founded in June 2020,” the chief executive of QuantBioRes, Ivan Loncarevic, told AFP.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to information publicly available in the Danish business register, 34-year-old Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, together hold a stake of 80 percent in QuantBioRes, which employs a workforce of around 20 in Denmark, Slovenia, Australia and Britain.

“We aim to develop a new technology to fight viruses and resistant bacteria and we decided to use Covid as a showcase,” Loncarevic said.

“If we succeed with Covid, we will succeed with other viruses.”

QuantBioRes is planning to launch clinical trials in the UK in the summer, the CEO said.

The unvaccinated men’s world number one flew out of Melbourne on Sunday after he failed in a last-gasp court bid to stay and play in the opening Grand Slam of the year, where he was targeting a record 21st major title.

His dramatic departure followed a protracted, high-stakes legal battle between the athlete and Australian authorities that cast a dark shadow over the tournament.

Contacted by AFP, Djokovic’s spokesman declined to comment on the tennis star’s stake in the Danish biotech firm.

gsg

Get the hottest sports news straight into your inbox


For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.

What you need to know about Coronavirus.


For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link .

Read Next

Ganuelas-Rosser, key part of Perez deal, bolts Terrafirma; Munzon returns

EDITORS’ PICK

MOST READ

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.

View comments