Výsledky vyhledávání

Green chemistry start-up Sulfotools closes seed round with i&i Prague. Darmstadt (Germany) 21.04.2021 – Peptides, small proteins with a broad range of biological properties, are used as active ingredients in many different products, e.g. as therapeutics (cancer treatment), in cosmetics (anti-aging products) or nutrition products. However, only few people are aware that the chemical production of such compounds is associated with immense consumption of toxic solvents and CO2 emission. Sulfotools GmbH, as spin-off of Technical University of Darmstadt, has developed a sustainable chemical peptide production method using water instead of toxic solvents, the Clean Peptide Technology (CPT). Together with the Czech biotech incubator & investor i&i Prague, Sulfotools will commercialize its technology to make peptide production more sustainable and eco-friendlier. For economic reasons, the majority of marketed peptides are produced chemically via the socalled solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS, state of the art). Each year the peptide industry consumes tens of thousands tons of environmentally harmful, hazardous and expensive organic solvents for the manufacturing. Additionally, the application of such solvents is associated with significant risks for humans and the environment (immense CO2 emission). N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), the most common solvent used for peptide synthesis is toxic, teratogen and classified as Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) by the European Chemicals Directive REACh. Especially, in cosmetic peptides residues of these toxic solvents are problematic and therefore, the purification of such peptides is very cost intensive. Sulfotools Clean Peptide Technology (CPT) combines the advantages of chemical synthesis with the mild and sustainable conditions of recombinant production. It is based on novel watersoluble building blocks, the use of which allows for the complete substitution of toxic organic solvents with water during the manufacturing process. Additionally, CPT includes an efficient purification system, a simple wastewater treatment option and due to intrinsic fluorescent properties, for the first time a real-time monitoring of the reaction progress, altogether leading to cost savings of up to 50% and at the same time to an eco-friendly production. Moreover, solvent-free end products can be produced which is an immense advantage for the application in the field of cosmetics and food supplements. Especially cosmetic and nutrition companies using CPT can advertise the benefits of a sustainable production directly to their endcustomers. The Sulfotools GmbH was founded in March 2016 by an interdisciplinary team from Darmstadt, Germany, which is driven by a clear vision: The greening of chemical peptide synthesis. The idea was born during the PhD research of Sascha Knauer at the Technical University of Darmstadt and filed in as patent application. Within the Exist I and II program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) the Clean Peptide Technology was developed to market-readiness. This included the demonstration of the applicability of the CPT by the successful peptide syntheses used in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals as well as in feasibility studies for renowned industrial customers. Moreover, the manufacturing processes for the water-soluble building blocks were optimized and are ready for up-scale. Together with i&i Prague Sulfotools will scale-up of the manufacturing of the water-soluble building blocks and start the commercialization of the technology. (www.sulfotools.com )

< Back Martin Kovalčík Communications For almost 13 years, Martin worked as a media coordinator for the respected Czech non-profit organization, People in Need, where he was responsible for the media service for a team of 300 people. Also, he has experience working in several editorial offices. He left his most significant mark at the Metro newspaper, where he worked for over 5 years, the last two as the deputy editor-in-chief.

From the Lab to the Market: What Biotech Commercialization Looks Like from the Perspective of an Incubator How does starting a company developing a new drug differ from, for example, one focused on IT? What can convince an investor to join such a company? Why should a scientist embark on the commercialization of their discoveries? What is the paradoxical advantage of being behind the global biotech leaders in the Czech Republic? And why do you sometimes feel like a translator? Jiří Moos, director of the biotech incubator i&i Prague, answers all these questions and much more in the following interview. Your incubator specializes in biotechnology. Could you first outline the specific characteristics associated with this field? There are indeed many differences compared to other areas of business. For example, I would mention the speed of revenue generation. In other industries, this is a key criterion for assessing the value of a project. However, in the development of new drugs, this question doesn't make sense. The project is meant to be sold to a pharmaceutical company while it's still far from commercial success. The value of these projects is therefore assessed based on entirely different criteria. Other specifics involve meeting strict regulatory conditions that ensure the safety and efficacy of the developed products, medical devices, or in vitro diagnostics. Therefore, we sometimes advise our startups to consider collaborating with an industry partner experienced in regulatory processes. This can save a lot of time and money. The same applies to distribution channels, which cannot be built overnight. Also worth mentioning are the higher initial investments required for equipping a top-notch laboratory. i&i Prague supports scientific startups in the early stages of their development. Could you describe how this process works? The first step is market need analysis. We examine whether the technology solves a problem that is currently unresolved. If so, we then assess the uniqueness and the possibility of intellectual property protection. Next comes the agreement with the originators of the technology on commercialization. There are two options – we either offer it for direct licensing, or we decide to establish a startup, which will secure investment and bring the development to the point where the technology is either commercially viable or saleable to a strategic partner. If the decision is made to go with a startup, which is your area of expertise, what needs to be done to convince an investor? Without an investor, the startup will not last long. That’s true. For a startup to secure initial investment, it must demonstrate that it has a technology aimed at a product with market potential – something that people or companies will be willing to pay for. If a startup is developing medical technology, it should seek feedback from doctors and, if possible, from a relevant industry contact. This market validation should occur early, before more extensive development begins, to avoid unnecessary dead ends. Investors also focus on intellectual property protection, which must be secured so that competitors cannot easily take over the technology. The startup team is also crucial – the members must be fully committed to the project and have the necessary skills. And, of course, the quality of the business plan is important to investors as well. From what you've said so far, it seems like a very demanding and sophisticated process. Why should a young scientist even go down this path? There are two main motivations. The first is humanitarian – science should help people and society. The results of scientific work, if they remain solely in the realm of academic science, can inspire further research but will not help anyone in a real way until they reach the market as actual products. The second motivation is experience. Working in a startup provides people with invaluable knowledge that continuously moves them forward. In Germany or Austria, these individuals are among the most valuable on the job market. You often work abroad. Can you describe how we are doing in this area compared to the developed world? It probably won’t surprise anyone that we are behind countries like Germany, Austria, Israel, or the USA. However, this lag can paradoxically be an advantage because we have the opportunity to be inspired by different systems. While it's not possible to take only the best from each country and create something entirely our own, we have a chance to create a thoughtful system that avoids the mistakes of others. What would you personally bring to the Czech Republic? There are really many insights, but I would especially mention two: the approach to problems and the willingness to collaborate. In Scandinavia or Israel, the approach to business and innovation is much more positive. It would be great if we could also learn to see problems as challenges to overcome and have the State here to help, not to place obstacles. In the scientific world here, unfortunately, business is still often seen as a betrayal of science, which needs to change. Additionally, it’s essential that scientists are willing to listen and be open to collaboration with experts from other fields. What is needed to successfully connect these different worlds? It’s about understanding the different mindsets. For example, aligning expectations regarding transparency and intellectual property protection. Academic institutions have an obligation to disclose contracts and publish results, which may conflict with the caution and need for strict intellectual property protection in the business world. Long-term stability of cooperation is also important, which can sometimes be a challenge in dynamically changing teams. Properly setting up relationships and achieving balance is not easy, but it’s essential for successful collaboration. How can this be achieved? That is one of the tasks for companies like ours. Sometimes I jokingly say that working in our incubator requires not only a scientific and business background but also translator skills to ensure proper communication between the academic community and industry. Author: Martin Kovalčík

CasInvent Pharma, a New University Spin-Off Focused on Developing Cancer Drugs Established with Help of i&i Prague! A new spin-off company, CasInvent Pharma, a.s., has been established by Masaryk University (MU) in cooperation with its investment partner, i&i Prague, s.r.o. (Ltd), in order to facilitate further development of new compounds that could be used to treat certain types of leukaemia, lymphoma and solid tumours. The company will test the compounds that inhibit the enzyme Casein Kinase 1 (CK1) which is responsible, among other things, for the migration of leukaemia cells into lymphoid organs. The research groups of Vitězslav Bryja and Kamil Paruch from the Faculty of Science MU have been studying and developing these compounds for a long time now. Thanks to the newly-established company, they will be able to finish the preclinical stage of the development of these prospective drugs and move on to clinical trials of the most promising compounds. “The main reason behind establishing this spin-off company is the fact that it is virtually the only option to commercialize this technology, which is still in early stages of development, and advance the research to such stage that it catches the interest of big investors from the pharmaceutical industry,” says the director of Technology Transfer Office MU, Eva Janouškovcová, as to why the joint-stock spin-off company was established with the university as one of its stakeholders. “The i&i Prague company searchs and supports the most promising technologies and the highest quality projects. We have known for a long time that the inhibitors of CK1 are the most promising Czech projects. I am glad that Masaryk University has chosen the i&i Prague as a strategic partner for this project. I believe that we will be able to make significant progress towards clinical trials in the development of the drug, attract other co-investors and international partners and enable the practical use of these new substances as soon as possible thanks to the establishment of the CasInvent Pharma company,” said the CEO of i&i Prague, Jaromír Zahrádka. The CasInvent Pharma spin-off will continue developing the promising results of the scientific teams which led to the patenting of the inhibitors, i.e. compounds that significantly decrease or completely inhibit the activity of CK1 and can be used to treat e.g. certain types of leukaemia. More specifically, the B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and the Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). CLL characteristically causes the accumulation of dysfunctional cancer cells in the blood and their migration to lymph nodes, liver, spleen and bone marrow, which causes further complications such as enlargement of organs, immunodeficiency, anaemia and other. The aggressiveness of the disease then depends on the interaction of these dysfunctional cells with their immediate surroundings – so-called microenvironment. This interaction leads to tumour cells dividing uncontrollably. The inhibitors of CK1 can effectively stop the migration of the leukaemia cells to lymphoid organs, which prevents them from being damaged and hinders the spreading of CLL. AML, which is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat types of leukaemia, has CK1 working in a different way. Based on the current results, the scientists expect the new compounds to initiate programmed cell death (so-called apoptosis) in leukaemia cells. Targeting interactions in the microenvironment, regulating apoptosis and inhibiting migration mechanisms can be successfully used with other forms of cancer as well, e.g. solid tumours the growth and spreading of which often depends on roughly the same principles. CasInvent Pharma joined the ranks of the other 17 spin-off companies Masaryk University helped to establish. The purpose of these spin-off companies is mainly to utilize the university’s intellectual property and increase its value. The university grants companies intellectual property licensing agreements and, in some cases, it even owns shares of the company. As a result, the spin-off companies established by the university bring profit to all the parties involved: for the university, it is the best way to appreciate its intellectual property, the spin-off company gains a competitive advantage on the market and, last but not least, the end product reaches the consumer more quickly

We focus on unique ideas that have the potential to succeed on a global scale. We are dedicated to innovations in Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, MedTech and other Life Science fields that originate from academic institutions. Our portfolio We help invention grow! We help turn groundbreaking scientific discoveries into successful startups and spin-offs. By connecting innovation with capital and expertise, we create growth opportunities. Our objective is to identify new inventions in Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, MedTech and other Life Science fields. This is an overview of our current portfolio: Portofolio companies Adalid Science Novel lipid nanoparticles for effective drug delivery Czech Republic Read More Dracen Pharmaceuticals Tumor-Directed Glutamine Antagonist Czech Republic/ USA Read More PerioTrap Curative treatment of periodontitis Germany Read More Sophomer Syntetic polymer for immunoassays Czech Republic Read More CasInvent Pharma Casein Kinase 1 inhibitors for cancer treatment Czech Republic Read More LAM-X Light-activated nanomaterials fighting infections Czech Republic Read More Reecyclium Separation of rare elements from permanent magnets Czech Republic Read More Sulfotools Green peptide synthesis technology Germany Read More Deep MedChem AI-based tools accelerating drug discovery Czech Republic Read More Pep-Therapy Innovative peptides for oncology France Read More Sampling Human Yeast cell based biocomputing Czech Republic/USA Read More Projects in incubation Here you will find a list of projects that are currently included in our incubation programme: Promental Health In vitro diagnostic panel of novel microRNA biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Poland Read More Nanoflexion Revolutionary nanofiber-based surgical patch designed to prevent anastomotic leakage and postoperative adhesions. Czech Republic Read More CLLEVERT A system for liquid-liquid microseparations, enabling sample preparation for GC and HPLC analysis. Czech Republic Read More FunBRUSH Antifouling polymer coating technology enhancing the performance and durability of chip surfaces. Czech Republic Read More Our exits Our role is to help launch new startups or spin-offs. The moment our role ends, the exit follows. Here is an overview of our exits: Diana Biotechnologies Pharmaceuticals and highly sensitive diagnostics Czech Republic Read More Elphogene Liquid biopsy technology for cancer diagnostics Czech Republic Read More Riocath New technology used in the production of catheters Czech Republic Read More

Hledáme projektového manažera/projektovou manažerku pro biotechnologické projekty Jsme inkubátor zaměřený na rozvoj technologických projektů a start-upů v oblasti life sciences. Podporujeme vznik a růst inovativních biotechnologických projektů v regionu střední a východní Evropy a spolupracujeme s výzkumnými institucemi, start-upy i mezinárodními partnery. Máte zkušenosti z výzkumu a doktorát v oblasti přírodních či lékařských věd a zajímá vás, jak se z vědeckých výsledků stávají nové technologie a firmy? Hledáme kolegu nebo kolegyni, který/á se chce podílet na rozvoji inovativních biotechnologických projektů z regionu CEE a spolupracovat s výzkumníky, start-upy i zahraničními partnery. Pokud vás láká práce na pomezí vědy, byznysu a technologických inovací, rádi vás poznáme. Co vás čeká Spolupráce na transferu technologií a komercializaci výsledků výzkumu a vývoje Spolupráce s výzkumnými týmy při rozvoji a validaci translačních projektů Odborné hodnocení projektů a technologická due diligence Řízení a rozvoj biotechnologických projektů od nápadu po realizaci Projektový management (plánování, koordinace, kontrola milníků a cílů) Spolupráce se zahraničními partnery, start-upy a spin-off společnostmi Monitoring trhu a vyhledávání nových investičních a projektových příležitostí v regionu CEE Pracovní cesty po Česku i do zahraničí Spolupráce s předními výzkumnými institucemi a technologickými start-upy v regionu Možnost podílet se na vzniku nových biotechnologických start-upů Co požadujeme VŠ vzdělání v přírodních nebo lékařských vědách (Ph.D. výhodou) Výbornou znalost češtiny a angličtiny (minimálně úroveň C1) pro každodenní odbornou i obchodní komunikaci. Další jazyk výhodou Zájem o biotechnologie, inovace a transfer technologií; zkušenost se start-upovým prostředím výhodou Analytické myšlení, samostatnost a výborné komunikační schopnosti Chuť cestovat a aktivně rozvíjet projekty i sítě kontaktů Co nabízíme Práci na inovativních biotechnologických projektech s mezinárodním dopadem Možnost ovlivňovat směřování projektů od rané fáze HPP na plný úvazek a motivující finanční ohodnocení 5 týdnů dovolené a atraktivní benefity Moderní zázemí v Praze a po zaškolení možnost částečné práce z domova Prostor pro odborný i kariérní růst v dynamickém prostředí biotechnologií Chci poslat svůj životopis V případě zájmu nám prosím zašlete svůj životopis prostřednictvím tohoto formuláře. Vyplnit formulář

Jaromír Zahrádka: Investments help science to serve people Jaromír Zahrádka According to Jaromír Zahrádka, director of the i&i Biotech investment fund, investing in science is like the proverbial chicken and egg. If there is a lack of investment, no new projects are created. And without interesting projects, it is impossible to get investors interested. So how to solve this dilemma? Jaromír Zahrádka answers these and other questions in an interview for Vědavýzkum.cz. The fund was established last year and has so far a total of 45 million euros at its disposal. It plans to invest this money over the next five years in about 20 scientific startups, in close cooperation with the i&i Prague incubator and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS. Please try to briefly introduce the i&i Biotech Fund. What are you involved in? We focus on investments in unique ideas in the field of drug development, diagnostics and medical technologies. We target early-stage scientific startups that often build on decades of research and have the potential for breakthrough discoveries. We invest to help them at a critical stage of their development. This is the period when they leave their laboratories or research facilities and lose their ability to access traditional sources of funding, such as research grants. At the same time, they are not yet in a position to compete for their first investors. We are trying to help them in their transition from purely scientific projects to functional companies. How does the new fund help? The fund gives us completely new opportunities to do so. And it's certainly not just about increasing the volume of investments we are able to make now. We have added experienced professionals to the team who have a wealth of experience with similar investments, which has significantly expanded our expertise. The fund is also built on standards that are common in Western Europe and the US. It is above all a transparent system with a precisely described investment strategy, clearly defined responsibilities of investors and managers and a precisely defined decision-making system. We want to set a certain standard and thus contribute to the cultivation of the overall environment. It is necessary to move on, because investing in the natural sciences unfortunately does not yet have much of a tradition in our region. The fund was created in cooperation between the i&i Prague incubator and the European Investment Fund (EIF). How was the idea for its establishment born? Let me go back in time. When we founded the i&i Prague incubator five years ago, we wanted to show that there are interesting ideas in the field of life sciences in the Czech Republic that deserve the attention of investors. We have drawn a lot from our close cooperation with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS and from the experience of its technology transfer office IOCB Tech, which works well under the leadership of Professor Martin Fusek. Thanks to this, we knew the expectations that international companies and investors have when assessing scientific projects, and we knew what it takes to get them interested in a new technology. At the same time, we had already built up quite a wide network of contacts from previous activities. Thanks to all of this, we have managed to find and support many unique startups over the years, and we have helped many of them to attract important strategic partners. Within the incubator we have built an interesting portfolio of promising startups, in which we have already invested over 70 million (Czech) crowns in addition to other support. However, we felt from the beginning that this investment component of our business needed strengthening, if only to be able to attract more investors. That is why we decided to create a completely new entity that will specialise in investment activities. We we approached the EIF with our vision and they liked our idea. What followed was a rather difficult negotiation that resulted in the creation of the i&i Biotech Fund. If I may make light of it, our whole business resembles the well-known saying about the chicken and the egg. If there is a lack of investment, new projects do not emerge, but without interesting projects you will not get investor interest. I am therefore very pleased that we can now support the development of all elements of our innovatory ecosystem simultaneously. This gives the Fund the chance to access unique and well-proven investment opportunities that may not be available to other investors. Could you describe more about how the negotiations with the EIF went? It was a relatively long-term affair, with the first contacts and discussions taking place before the establishment of i&i Prague. The final phase of "courtship" lasted three years, with the last two being very intense. During that time we had to convince the EIF that we could invest their money well. We had to prove that we could identify innovative scientific startups with interesting investment potential, that we could manage the portfolio of these startups and increase their value over time. In addition, we had to go through many formal processes. We were scrutinized on the overall setup of the fund, the transparency of its management, the functionality of its control mechanisms and the ethics of investing. Last but not least, we had to meet the general criteria of the EIF – for example, that the support must be directed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We are opening up to the world, which will also help Czech projects You have announced your first investment ventures. These are investments in the Austrian start-up Celeris Therapeutics, in the American company Dracen Pharmaceuticals and in the Czech-American technology start-up, Sampling Human. Although there is a significant Czech footprint in two of the three investments, it cannot be said that you are primarily focused on domestic startups. Is that right? Yes, it is. When we founded i&i Prague, we decided not to focus purely on the Czech Republic, but to open up to the world, figuratively speaking. We did the same when we set up the fund. The reason is simple – by cooperating with foreign partners for a long time, we learn and gain invaluable experience. We can then use this to select the most interesting Czech startups and help them become even better. This ultimately moves them forward and makes them competitive both in Europe and globally. When looking for investment opportunities, we therefore focus primarily on the Central European region, which we know well and where we have many good partners. However, in the event of an interesting offer, we are also ready to support projects that originate outside this geographical area. Thanks to the fact that we are creating a portfolio composed of unique Czech and foreign startups, we increase the chances of success for the whole fund and attract the attention of other foreign investors who are not yet familiar with our region. This is not to say that we don't want Czech projects. On the contrary, we will be happy for them. Our advantage is that, in addition to investment, we can also offer them intensive support from the i&i Prague incubator. What is your experience with the quality of Czech projects? How do they compare with foreign competitors? We know from experience that the ever-increasing quality of science in the Czech Republic gives the opportunity for unique ideas, inventions and technologies that are no worse than similar projects from the USA or Western Europe. The difference is mainly in the mindset of the people and the availability and quality of the supporting infrastructure, be it technology transfer centres, incubators or grant resources. I believe that, thanks to our Fund's approach, we will also gradually become fully integrated into the advanced European countries where we belong in the area of innovation and investment. Let us move on. As you yourself have already indicated, investment in the natural sciences does not have much of a tradition in the Czech Republic. Could you explain at least some of the specifics that this sector entails? Compared to other industries, investing in life sciences is more demanding in terms of knowledge and the amount of investment. We need to be able to assess the potential of new scientific discoveries, which entails the need to understand their nature and uniqueness. There is also a need for considerable flexibility, as the chosen technology is often developed towards an inappropriate application, so that the final use changes multiple times during development. The original business plan is constantly being significantly modified based on the results obtained. The better and more comprehensively you can understand, monitor or even direct the development of the entire project, the better your chances of success. Compared to other industries, there are also much stricter regulations. The other side of the coin is that there is less competition in this field within the EU, which gives a relatively small and new fund like i&i Biotech the chance to get involved in top European projects. As far as valuation is concerned, if you manage to overcome the considerable initial barriers with your technology and obtain the necessary certifications, the value of the project will increase rapidly and you can find a place on a global level. But it's not just about the money. Investing in innovative science projects advances human knowledge and new technologies help people. And it's exciting to be at the start of a journey that may one day end up bringing new drugs to market or introducing new diagnostic methods. Technology transfer? Like driving a car... Let's now turn to technology transfer, a concept that is intrinsically linked to your work. How would you answer the question of what it is for a layman? The whole process can be imagined, for example, like driving a car. At the beginning of the journey, i.e. during the initial research period, the scientist himself drives the car. The moment the project leaves the lab and develops into a functioning company, the driving becomes more and more challenging and the driving needs to be shared with professionals, experts and managers. The scientist then becomes much more of a navigator, showing where to turn, but the overall direction of travel must already be determined by market principles. During the journey, the crew is further expanded to include other passengers, such as economists, lawyers, patent experts and, of course, investors, who together ensure that the car does not run into a dead end, that any breakdowns are quickly repaired and that the car does not run out of petrol. Some of the passengers will only ride for a short distance, others will become a permanent part of the crew, but it is only through the effective cooperation of everyone involved that the challenges of this challenging journey can be overcome. It is important to have working relationships in place, otherwise the journey can end at the first minor puncture. It is the establishment of fair partnerships and sufficient trust between scientists, their parent institutions, managers, investors and companies that I believe is the main task of technology transfer offices. Everything else then runs almost by itself. What do you see as the biggest benefit that technology transfer brings? Technology transfer, including various forms of contract research, generates billions of (Czech) crowns for Czech science and universities. It is therefore an important pillar of funding that can only be further supported. Above all, it enables the transfer of scientific discoveries from the laboratory into practice. It is a long and challenging journey, during which it is necessary to ensure sufficient funding, legal protection and the correct commercial direction of the original scientific idea. The fact is that, without professional technology transfer, virtually no invention will achieve commercial success. This is also why many interesting results of science and research go unused and never help anyone. All major research institutions are gradually realising this, and technology transfer is becoming an increasingly important issue for the Academy of Sciences as well as for universities and other institutions. Why should a scientific discovery be commercially successful? I am referring to the relationship between technology transfer and basic research... Basic research pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, so the function is irreplaceable. Without it, no discoveries will be made, there will be nothing to transfer, and everything will probably only happen at the level of small innovations in companies. However, the aim of scientists should not only be to discover something new, but they should also think about whether they can help people with their discoveries. To do this, it is necessary to transfer successful ideas from scientific laboratories into practice, which is what technology transfer makes possible. Thus, technology transfer does not go against basic research, but instead constitutes a service needed to fulfil one of the primary functions of science, which is to improve the quality of human life. Scientist as businessman? The success of a startup depends not only on the idea itself or the willingness of investors to finance its development, but also on the skills of its managers. Where can you find such people? Finding experienced managers with the necessary scientific background is more than difficult in the Czech Republic, but it is not easy elsewhere in Europe either. It is a question of when we will be able to change this, because science entrepreneurship has almost no roots here. This is a structural problem that will take time to solve. We can start, for example, by including subjects in the study of science that introduce students to the start-up as an interesting perspective for their life development and give them the opportunity to experience such work, for example through internships. Thanks to their creativity and imagination, science students and young scientists are very well-placed to become successful managers. If we allow them to get a good feel for the workings of a start-up during their studies, I firmly believe that many of them would actually start their own companies in the future. Unfortunately, it still happens quite often that top Czech experts and scientists want to return after gaining further experience abroad, but we are not able to offer them favourable conditions to carry on further work in the Czech Republic. This problem could be partly solved by technology start-ups. By supporting them, we will not only enable the return of the investments we have made in the education of these people during their studies, but we will also start a positive spiral towards a knowledge-based economy with high added value. Fortunately, the necessary change is already gradually taking place, with the first successes appearing and more to follow. I am glad we are there. In conclusion, what would you wish Czech science on its way to further successes? I would wish it to finally get the necessary attention from politicians and other authorities. So that it does not have to defend its social need and its funding in such a complicated and repetitive way. Unfortunately, the current overblown bureaucracy and the eternal "presumption of guilt" often makes scientists more like bureaucrats, trying to comply with all the administrative requirements of grant and other agencies. In all this, they are left with relatively little time for scientific work itself, and it is difficult to carry out the more daring projects that can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Despite all these obstacles, however, Czech science is growing and producing unique results. It seems to me, therefore, that it is about time that we were able to recognise the potential that Czech science offers to our economy. However, I would like us all, first and foremost, to stop underestimating ourselves unnecessarily in the Czech Republic. At least in the area of science, technology transfer and smart investment, I see no reason to do so. Author: Martin Kovalčík Published on www.vedavyzkum.cz , the interview can be found in Czech here .

Enantis, a Masaryk University spin-off company, concluded a license agreement for the production of stabilised growth factor FGF2. After months of negotiations, we are delighted to announce that Enantis, one of i&i Prague´s first supported start-ups, has entered into a global license agreement with one of the top providers of life science solutions with ther innovative FGF2-STAB® molecule and its use in research and cell therapy market. “Having a licensing deal with a company from Fortune magazine’s yearly list of 500 largest US companies is a significant milestone for us,” says Roman Badik, CEO of Enantis. Under the terms of agreement, Enantis along with Masaryk University have granted worldwide royalty-bearing license to manufacture FGF2-STAB® and develop new products containing this patented molecule. More details including the name of the licensee cannot be disclosed as per the terms of the license. Enantis, Masaryk University’s first biotechnology spin-off company, has recently concluded a license agreement with a leading global distributor of materials for science and research. This will enable to increase the production of FGF2-STAB, a patented fibroblast growth factor, making it available to laboratories all over the world. Revenues from sales will also go to MU. Growth factors are among the most important biomolecules in living cells. The synthesis and degradation of growth factors at the various stages of cell division and differentiation enable living organisms to develop and grow properly. Fibroblast growth factor 2 is among key molecules in cell cultivation media used to grow embryonic stem cells, which have broad applications in biomedical research and clinical practice. Fibroblast growth factors are proteins supporting cell growth and division. Petr Dvořák and Pavel Krejčí from the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Medicine were among the first to work with these factors, focusing on FGF2. They discovered and characterised some of its properties, but more importantly, they managed to stabilise the factor using protein engineering. This means they modified it to remain functional for over twenty days at temperatures of around 37 degrees Celsius, which is critical for biological applications. Leveraging their close co-operation with the teams at Loschmidt Laboratories, RECETOX, and the Department of Experimental Biology at the Faculty of Science, they agreed to test the newly developed FireProt stabilisation platform on these biomedically interesting but unstable molecules. “FireProt is a computational system that enables us to search for suitable modifications of molecules to make them useful in practice. FGF2 was the first system with applications in biomedicine on which we successfully used our platform,” said Jiří Damborský, describing the steps towards the recent success. Modifications of FGF2 through protein engineering took three years and focused on the protein’s thermodynamic stability. “We gradually substituted certain amino acids in its structure for different ones, or in other words we deliberately created point mutations. This process strengthened the interactions between the amino acids, thus improving the overall robustness of the protein. The design of the mutations and their construction was quite fast, but then came a long period where we had to test their influence on the FGF2’s biological activity. We were very careful not to damage the protein, so we always tested only a single variant out of thousands of candidates,” added David Bednář, one of the creators of the FireProt platform. Stabilised FGF2 can be used by scientists in their work with stem cells because it stimulates cell division and can be used in cell therapies, treatment of slow-healing wounds such as burns and in the treatment of diabetes. The molecule is protected by a patent that is jointly owned by MU and Enantis. The product named FGF2-STAB secured a European patent and patent proceedings in other countries are pending. Enantis is responsible for the commercial applications of the molecule. After a year of negotiations, the company managed to conclude a license agreement with a US company which will manufacture and further develop the application possibilities of the growth factor. “The negotiation was not easy, but we’re happy that such an important global company decided to license our technology and satisfy the growing demand for our product,” said Roman Badík, CEO of Enantis. While the name of the global company and other details of the license agreement have not been made public, it represents a breakthrough in the history of Masaryk University. “Each year, MU enters into dozens of licensing agreements for the intellectual property developed at the university. However, in terms of future benefits, this may be one of the most important contracts signed so far,” said Radoslav Trautmann, head of MU’s Technology Transfer Division, adding that it marks a milestone in biotechnology not only for the South Moravian Region, but the Czech Republic as a whole.

Dracen Pharmaceuticals Announces the Initiation of First-in-human Study of DRP-104 in Adult Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors! Dracen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the start of a clinical trial of DRP-104, an anti-cancer substance developed by the team of Pavel Majer at IOCB Prague in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA) @johnshopkinsu . The first patients have received the substance, and the initial phase of the trial will last approximately three years. “The initiation of the phase one clinical trial of our substance is excellent news and an important milestone on the path towards a new treatment for oncology patients,” said Pavel Majer, Head of the drug discovery group at IOCB Prague. Learn more on IOCB page or Dracen page !

i&i Prague and other Prague.bio members participate in a business mission with Czech president in Switzerland Prague, November 7, 2024 – Key representatives from Prague.bio, (incl. i&i Prague) and other leading members of the Czech biotech community, participated in a high-profile business mission in Switzerland, which accompanied the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, on his state visit. Organized by the Czech Chamber of Commerce, this mission aimed to deepen commercial and research partnerships between the Czech Republic and Switzerland, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and innovation. Switzerland, recognized globally for its leadership in biotech and pharmaceuticals, is an ideal partner for the Czech Republic’s rapidly growing biotech ecosystem. Over the three-day mission, the delegation visited Zurich, Basel, and Bern, where they engaged in forums, expert meetings, and institutional visits that highlight the mutual commitment to advancing science and technology. In Zurich, the Czech delegation took part in a prestigious business forum at ETH Zurich, one of the world’s foremost technical universities. The event was inaugurated by President Petr Pavel and Swiss Confederation President Viola Amherd, featuring speakers such as Ruth Metzler-Arnold, President of Switzerland Global Enterprise, and Christoph Mäder, President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce. The discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration between Czech and Swiss biotech companies, positioning Prague as an emerging biotech hub in Europe. The mission continued in Basel, where delegates were touring the Biozentrum at the University of Basel, a center known for groundbreaking research in molecular biology and biotechnology. Global pharmaceutical giant Roche was also hosting the delegation for an exclusive visit, offering insights into cutting-edge research in biotech and pharmaceuticals. The agenda included a roundtable discussion on funding opportunities for biotech and life sciences, a key area of growth for both Switzerland and the Czech Republic. "Switzerland represents an extraordinary opportunity for Prague.bio to connect with one of the most innovative biotech ecosystems in the world," says Petra Kinzlová, CEO of Prague.bio. "This mission was not just about strengthening commercial ties; it was about fostering collaborations that can drive scientific progress and bolster the international competitiveness of Czech biotech. By connecting with top Swiss institutions and industry leaders, we were opening doors for new ideas, partnerships, and growth." Contact for media: Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@iniprague.com +420 777 472 863

OUR TEAM Our team benefits from decades of know-how and experiences gathered in academic institutions, technology transfer and industrial companies. Using this knowledge, we are developing a pool of highly potent biotech projects originating in academia and finding commercial partners for them. DAVID STÍBAL CEO David evaluates the business potential of scientific projects, establishes and initially manages startups, and works on the long-term development of projects all the way to their successful commercialization. David completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, and conducted postdoctoral research at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to joining us, he worked in Lach-Ner s.r.o. as a research scientist. LinkedIn Mail JIŘÍ MOOS Managing Director In addition to managing i&i Prague, Jiří is responsible for project analysis. He is a member of the GAMA Commercialization Council of the Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG) and an external member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute of Biotechnology. Previously, he was a senior sales manager at Sigma-Aldrich and coordinator of regional activities of the Sigma-Aldrich Applied Business Unit. He also worked at Immunotech a.s. and has extensive experience as a researcher at the Centre for Assisted Reproduction at the General University Hospital in Prague and IMG. LinkedIn Mail ROBERTO FERNANDEZ Lead Incubation Manager Roberto is responsible for the analysis of projects. Prior to joining us, Roberto completed his Ph.D. in Macromolecular Chemistry at Charles University in Prague. He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Costa Rica and an MSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from Autonomous University of Barcelona. Parallel to his work in i&i Prague, Roberto works as a project manager in the MedTech start-up LAM-X a.s. Due to his experience, Roberto prefers to focus on projects in the field of medical devices and drug delivery. LinkedIn Mail IVA MACHOVÁ Incubation and Regional Manager for Poland Iva is responsible for the analysis of project technology. Before joining our company, Iva worked as a postdoc researcher at the Biomedical Center of the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen. She holds BSc and MSc degrees from UCT Prague, Czech Republic, and she did her Ph.D. at the Institute of organic chemistry and biochemistry. Iva spent several months on a postdoctoral fellowship at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Due to her scientific experience in biochemistry, she is focused on projects in the field of drug discovery and cell therapy. LinkedIn Mail JIŘÍ RŮŽIČKA Incubation Manager Jiri is responsible for analyzing projects at i&i Prague. He also worked at the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the CAS (IEM), the University of Cambridge, and the University of Leeds. He has done his PhD at IEM and the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. He has 14+ years of experience in neuroscience and regenerative medicine with a broad focus on brain/spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and ageing. He has been dealing with enzymatic, gene, or cell therapies, biomaterial applications, and genetic models of neurodegenerative disorders. Mail Mail KAMILA BURDOVÁ Incubation Manager Kamila is an Incubation Manager at i&i Prague. She brings over a decade of scientific experience in molecular biology, genome stability, and DNA repair, gained at leading research institutions including the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague, the University of Oxford, and the University of Sussex. At i&i Prague, she supports the development and growth of early-stage biotech projects with strong scientific foundations. Her deep understanding of academic research allows her to bridge the gap between science and commercialization effectively. LinkedIn Mail JAN BERKA Project Manager with a Focus on International Contacts Jan studied molecular biology and genetics at Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic). After his doctorate, he worked at the Barnett Institute, Northeastern University in Boston on the development of DNA sequencers. Later, he worked at CuraGen, 454 Life Sciences, Pfizer Rinat and Adaptive Biotechnologies, where he was involved in pioneering methods of DNA and immune system sequencing. Before joining i&i Prague, he worked at Roche Molecular Diagnostics in California, developing biomarker assays. Mail Mail MICHAŁ JESKA Innovation Program Manager for Poland Michał evaluates the potential of innovation projects, designs and manages programs that support their development, and works closely with teams to guide solutions from early-stage concepts to scalable implementation and real-world impact. With a background spanning entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and academia, he has extensive experience in building and scaling health-tech initiatives. Prior to this role, Michał served at Medical Innovation Institute, Roche IT Poland and uPacjenta. Michał holds a degree in law from the University of Warsaw. LinkedIn Mail MARTIN KOVALČÍK Communication Manager Martin is responsible for PR activities and communication of our incubator. Prior to joining i&i Prague, Martin worked for nearly 13 years as a media coordinator at the respected Czech non-profit organisation, People in Need, where he was responsible for regular media relations and media service for a team of 300 people. He also has experience working in several editorial offices. He left his most significant mark at the Metro newspaper, where he worked for over 5 years, the last two as the deputy editor-in-chief. Mail Mail SIMONA ŠANDOVÁ Office Manager Simona is responsible for making sure that everything works as it should in i&i Prague. During her career, Simona has worked as an Office Manager and a Junior Property Manager. She was responsible for training and conference organization, communication with clients and suppliers as well as administrative assistance for the project and property department. Simona has considerable experience in administration and office management. LinkedIn Mail

Notes from a trip to “The most startup friendly country in the world” At the end of April, Karel Kubias (one of the partners of i&i Biotech Fund) and Jiří Moos (CEO of i&i Prague) attended an event in Riga, Latvia, called Roche Latvia Innovations Day. Here you can read their blog where they describe their impressions from the event and, more importantly, provide further evidence that the Baltic States can serve as inspiration for the Czech Republic. At least in terms of technology transfer… At the end of April 2022, the Latvian representative office of the global pharmaceutical company, Roche, invited us as guests of the “Roche Latvia Innovations Incubator Day”. We gladly accepted the invitation as supporting and building technology transfer is in i&i Prague and i&i Biotech’s genes. It is commendable and positive (but not surprising) that Roche has decided to establish incubators in different territories to financially support primary research results and create an environment where innovative ideas can grow and mature. In Latvia, moreover, this initiative is closely aligned with significant state support. Developing the knowledge economy During the one-day event, two representatives of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (www.liaa.gov.lv ) spoke, among others, about how the Agency supports innovation and technology transfer, increases Latvia’s attractiveness for foreign investors and, last but not least, introduced us to its support programs for startups. Additionally, we learned that: in 2021 Latvia had over 400 startups from different sectors (from Fintech to Medtech and Healthtech to Biotech); the entire country (almost one-fifth smaller than the Czech Republic in size) is divided into 11 regional incubators, each of which provides startups with pre-incubation and incubation programs. Latvia has a “Startup Law”, designed to support startups, which allows them to receive co-funding from the state for qualified staff as well as tax benefits. However, the agency not only supports startups, but also the activities of entrepreneurs looking to develop new products or technologies in the form of Innovation Vouchers of up to €25,000. If you are interested in transferring your activities from abroad to Latvia and establishing a startup there, the Agency will arrange a visa for you. Thanks to all this, the Baltic country has been named “the most startup friendly country in the world” by Index Ventures. At times, we felt like we were at a conference in Germany or Austria, where the state also strongly supports technology transfer and startups in general. But Latvia? The targeted efforts to promote technology transfer here have a quite prosaic reason, this country does not have a strong industrial base, so they are focusing on promoting technology transfer in order to create favorable conditions for the development of the knowledge economy in Latvia. The meeting in Riga ‘one of the most exceptional’ As part of our contribution “What does your start-up need to be ready for investors?”, we shared our experience of the process of evaluating and supporting startups before i&i Biotech Fund decides to invest. We were delighted with the feedback from the audience who found our experience beneficial and did not hesitate to contact us with questions after the program. The full morning program can be viewed here. In the second part of the program, we were then introduced to the presentations of seven startups. Each of them received feedback from us and also recommendations for next steps. We continue to stay in contact with two of the teams and are considering investment in the future. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Roche team for the excellent organization of the meeting. In our professional lives we have made dozens, if not hundreds of business trips, and only a few have stuck in our minds for their uniqueness. We dare to say that this visit to Riga will be one of those exceptional experiences. And we must also admit that we were pleasantly surprised by the level of support the Latvian government is dedicating to technology transfer. Our country can take inspiration from Latvia in this respect. Jiří Moos, i&i Prague (Executive Director) Karel Kubias, i&i Biotech Fund (Partner) THE CZECH VERSION OF THE BLOG CAN BE FOUND HERE . Contact: Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@inibio.eu , +420 777 472 863