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i&i Prague supports the innovative start-up PEP-Therapy in their extension of the Series-A financing, totalling €5.4 million to progress the clinical development of the lead candidate PEP-010 PEP-Therapy, a biotechnology company developing cell penetrating peptides as targeted therapies for the treatment of cancers, announced today that it raised an additional €2.6 million ($3 million) in an extension of its Series A financing round, bringing the total raised in this round to €5.4 million ($6.4 million). This new funding comprises €1.6 million in equity from Anaxago, i&i Prague and BADGE as well as a €1 million loan from Bpifrance. This increased financial support highlights the potential of PEP-010, as well as PEP-Therapy’s Cell Penetrating & Interfering Peptide (CP&IP) technology platform, which was first developed at Sorbonne University and Institut Curie. PEP-010 is the first of a new class of therapeutic peptides based on PEP-Therapy’s innovative Cell Penetrating & Interfering Peptide (CP&IP) technology. These innovative molecules penetrate cells and specifically block relevant intracellular protein-protein interactions, leading to the inhibition of key pathological mechanisms, without altering physiological mechanisms. PEP-Therapy will use the funds to finance the Phase I a/b clinical trial of PEP-010, PEP-Therapy’s lead candidate, for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The first part of the Series A, which closed in April 2021, will finance the Phase Ia dose escalation part of the study, with the additional funds being used for the development of PEP-010 until the end of the expansion cohorts, Phase Ib. PEP-Therapy expects to generate promising clinical data from this study, particularly in two indications: metastatic triple negative breast cancer and platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Patients with these two types of solid tumors have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic alternatives. Antoine Prestat, CEO and co-founder of PEP-Therapy, said: “We are delighted to have completed this financing round via an attractive balance of dilutive and non-dilutive funds from new high quality and diversified investors who will bring expertise and new insights to support our development.” Jaromír Zahrádka, PhD, CEO of i&i, commented: “PEP-Therapy has developed an extensive knowledge of targeted peptides and the promising preclinical data the company has generated show great potential. We are looking forward to seeing the confirmation of the positive results seen in preclinical data in the upcoming Phase I study.” Gaston Vasseur, Investment Manager at Anaxago, added “This extended financing highlights PEPTherapy’s capacity to attract highly specialized as well as diversified investors. The Company has managed to rapidly secure the funding for the Phase I trial with PEP-010, a very important milestone for the company. We are happy to contribute to this financing round in conjunction with a number of experienced life science investors.” In addition, PEP-Therapy and its clinical partners, Institut Curie and Gustave Roussy, previously received a €2.9 million grant from the French state innovation fund – Fonds Unique Interministériel (FUI) – to finance nonclinical and early clinical development of PEP-010. About Anaxago Founded in 2012, Anaxago Venture Capital is a digital VC firm specialised in Healthtech & Biotech, Proptech, Fintech and Impact investing. Anaxago Venture Capital has financed more than 45 companies since its creation. About BADGE Business Angels des Grandes Ecoles (BADGE), created in 2004, is a leading French Business Angels association with more than 280 members, and having participated in 21 fundraisings in 2020 of a combined value of over €5.3 million. Its members are recognized leaders in all sectors of the industry and are willing to finance and support young innovative companies with high growth potential. BADG aims to: Identify and review promising innovative projects Conduct fund-raising for the most promising ones Support the entrepreneurs with individualized business advice and key contacts Provide training and methodological support to its members BADGE has thus financed more than 185 young companies since its creation.

The judges at Transfera Technology Day 2021 awarded the cream of the crop This year at the 2nd Transfera Technology Day, the first place went to the Tablets for the Treatment of Contaminated Water. The second place was taken by the Microemulsions and Gels for Cleaning Surfaces of Historical Materials and the bronze went to the project aimed at detecting bacteria in amniotic fluid. The jury consisting of representatives of the business community, investors and organisers assessed the commercial potential of research projects of Czech universities and other research institutions. This year, they also awarded the Sympathy Prize for the first time – it went to the special oxygenation liners for fishing beads. The event aims at connecting science and business in order to get valuable feedback regarding the commercial potential of projects and secure future funding for promising research projects. “Czech science and research has many talented people to offer. However, they need to be supported and motivated. That’s why we’re glad we can keep connecting the world of business with the great ideas of our scientists. Especially at its start, no project can survive without support,” says Eva Janouškovcová, chairwoman of the Transfera.cz association, the co-organizer of the event. Battle of Universities, Research Institutes and Hospitals 13 scientific research projects were selected as finalists (aside from the first three projects, there were e.g. the Electrostatic Separation of Plastics to Improve Wate Separation, the Pad for Sensing the Load and Position of the Patient or the Device for Coating Wires in Implant Surgery). There were teams of scientists from the Czech Technical University in Prague, the National Institute of Mental Health, J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, the University of West Bohemia, Palacký University Olomouc, The University of Hradec Králové, Brno University of Technology, University Hospital Hradec Králové, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Masaryk University, the Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics CAS, the Institute of Geonics CAS and the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. The jury chose the best three out of these teams. The winning project of the Palacký University Olomouc is meant to be used mainly in case of natural disasters or industrial accidents. The new effervescent tablets for the treatment of contaminated water are easy to store and use – you simply put them in the contaminated water. Thanks to being “fizzy”, they take effect very quickly. The tablet dissolves completely in just 30 seconds allowing the active ingredient to perform its function. Moreover, they do not contain any toxic substances and are environmentally friendly. The second place went to the Microemulsions and Gels for Cleaning Surfaces of Historical Materials developed by the team of J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry CAS. These extremely gentle yet effective microemulsion cleaning systems are designed to remove unwanted substances from various valuable historical artefacts. The main component here is water – the content of the active ingredients is very low, yet they are highly effective. The third place went to the University Hospital Hradec Králové and their project Detection of Bacteria in Amniotic Fluid in Patients with Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes. This new method helps detect the presence of specific bacteria in amniotic water in just a couple of hours. Thanks to this, it will be possible to initiate effective antibiotic treatment in time and reduce the adverse effects on the fetus. Sympathy Prize Will Help Fish The Sympathy prize was won by the Aeration and Oxygenation Liner in Fishing Beads from the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovic. This liner should improve the conditions of the fish stored in beads e.g. when fishing out ponds or during pre-Christmas sales. The new liner will provide sufficient oxygenation of water without the necessity of weighting down the aeration hoses, which complicates catching the fish and often results in injuring them. Winners Got Both Money and Well-deserved Attention The projects that made it to the finals can use the title Finalist of TRANSFERA TECHNOLOGY DAY 2021. The winning project was awarded the title Winner of TRANSFERA TECHNOLOGY DAY 2021. The certificate is a mark of quality and can help secure not only financial support. The finalists will also receive an invitation to the Technological Incubation project of the CzechInvest agency who can allocate funding of up to CZK 5 million to each project. The jury that evaluated both the presentations and the commercial potential of the projects consisted of the representatives of investors and other experts – Petra Gordan (Nation1), Jaromír Zahrádka and Barbora Šumová (i&i Biotech Fund), Jakub Domitra (Busyman), Eva Janouškovcová and Petr Kubečka (Transfera.cz), Jiří Krechl (CzechInvest), Robert Reich (Lighthouse Ventures) and Václav Novák and Jaroslav Řasa (NEURON Endowment Fund). The competition has been organized by Transfera.cz together with its general partner CzechInvest and other partners (e.g. Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, NEURON Endowment Fund, vedavyzkum.cz and others). A record of the event can be found at www.transfera.cz .

The Start-up Gives Scientists the Opportunity to Help Shape the Path of Their Discovery Jiří Růžička works as an incubation manager at the biotech incubator i&i Prague, where he focuses on innovations in drug development, diagnostics, and medical technologies. His work centers on analyzing scientific projects from the perspective of their commercial potential and supporting early-stage scientific start-ups and spin-offs. What does he think about the relationship between basic research and the commercialization of scientific discoveries? Why should young scientists consider creating a start-up, and when is the right time to start? What role do incubators play in this process? He answers all of these questions in the following interview… First of all, how would you describe the relationship between basic science and the commercialization of scientific discoveries? It’s a bit like the relationship between your left and right hand. Each hand functions independently, but both are part of the same body. And the better they cooperate, the better off the whole organism is. In other words: without basic science, nothing new or revolutionary would ever emerge, meaning there would be nothing to commercialize. Successful commercialization, in turn, brings much-needed financial resources back into science. Moreover, it often supports basic science with insights that arise from industrial research. One form of commercialization is transforming a scientific project into a company, such as a start-up or spin-off. Why should a scientist become an entrepreneur? If someone starts a company to further develop the results of their scientific work, they gain the ability to help shape the path their discovery takes. I personally find it unique when you can not only announce your findings to the world but also play a role in how they are applied in practice. If successful, you can directly witness how your discoveries improve the quality of life for millions of people around the globe—but we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Another motivation is the potential financial reward that comes when the developed technology becomes interesting to big pharmaceutical companies or other industrial partners. However, if that’s the only reason for commercialization, I consider it insufficient. It’s a very long and uncertain path—people say that in this field, one project out of ten survives, and one out of a hundred makes a profit. That’s why you need a stronger motivation than just money. The most important reason young scientists should consider this path, in my opinion, is the invaluable experience they gain from it. Working in a start-up helps everyone on the team grow and develop in a comprehensive way. When we talk to colleagues from Germany, Austria, or other Western European countries, these people are among the most valued in the job market—often even if their project didn’t succeed. I personally find it unique when you can not only announce your findings to the world but also play a role in how they are applied in practice. JIŘÍ RŮŽIČKA Project manager at i&i Prague Is it true that creating a start-up means the end of a scientist's research career? Not true—or better said, it doesn’t have to be. In a well-functioning start-up, the scientist becomes part of a team where each member has their defined role. The CEO manages the overall operations, the CFO handles finances, and the scientific team should continue focusing primarily on the development of the core technology, with research being guided by goals based on specific market needs. When is the right moment for a scientist to start thinking about commercializing their discoveries? At the beginning, of course, you don’t know whether your work will ever have commercial potential. But it’s important to keep in mind that it might—and to understand that your discoveries need to be properly protected through patents. No commercial partner will invest in a technology that anyone can easily copy. So if you have an idea or data that you haven’t published or presented outside your team yet, go talk to your institute's or university’s tech transfer office. They can advise you on the next steps, how to protect the technology, and if you want to go the start-up route—who knows, maybe we’ll meet. You can also reach out to us directly. What role do incubators play in the whole process? I’ll speak on behalf of i&i Prague. Our incubator is ready to help from the moment a purely scientific project begins to take shape as an idea for a start-up or spin-off. In collaboration with inventors and tech transfer offices, we assist in establishing the company itself. Then we help with legal, business, organizational, staffing, and other matters related to launching and growing a new company. A separate part of our support is investment. Our incubator doesn’t just provide scientific and business expertise—we can also help with funding. Thanks to our close collaboration with the investment fund i&i Bio, which we co-founded in 2021, we know what it takes to attract investors. While we don’t promise direct investment, we offer know-how that helps companies understand what they need to do to stand a chance of securing funding. I personally find it unique when you can not only announce your findings to the world but also play a role in how they are applied in practice. JIŘÍ RŮŽIČKA Project manager at i&i Prague In addition to your work at i&i Prague, you’re also involved in the start-up Deep MedChem. Can you tell us more about this project? Deep MedChem was born out of a collaboration between the tech transfer office IOCB Tech, which is part of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a company called MAMA AI, which specializes in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Deep MedChem is developing an idea that uses vector-based search of chemical space—a massive database of billions of molecules, from which, for example, large pharmaceutical companies search for potential candidates for the production of new drugs. Our solution works like a kind of ChatGPT that significantly streamlines this process, saving not only time and money, but also drastically shortening the early stages of drug development. Specifically, how did you get involved in the Deep MedChem project? I joined Deep MedChem at the end of 2023 as a representative of i&i Prague during the founding of the company. At that time, the company needed to handle issues unrelated to technology development. It’s important to realize that while the project is developing an amazing technology, that’s only the beginning. We had to create a standard company structure, set up proper accounting, establish supervisory bodies, draft a basic business plan, and prepare for investor negotiations, grant applications, and acquiring the first clients. In short—everything related to launching a company. It’s now been over a year, and as the CBO of the start-up, I’m still learning new things that I want to pass on to others. As a former scientist, I really appreciate that my synapses are definitely not going idle. Thank you for the interview. Author: Martin Kovalčík

LAM-X, a.s. won the 2020 EIT Health #MedTech Bootcamp final #Pitch Event i&i Prague supported start-up, LAM-X, a.s. , become a winner of the 2020 EIT Health #MedTech Bootcamp final #Pitch Event! After 5 intense, dense and focused full-time weeks in front of zoom, where the teams refined their business model, widened their network and worked on regulations and pitch skills, the 10 teams presented their projects to a curious, knowledgable jury: Jörg Trinkwalter, Olaf Weiner, Samuel Schuler and Stefan Fasbender – and LAM-X a.s. was evaluated as the most advanced! Congratulations!

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CasInvent Pharma raises € 1.6 million from i&i Prague and Other Investors to Support the Development of CK1 Inhibitors for Treatment-Resistant Solid and Hematological Tumours The financing will boost the development of innovative casein kinase 1 (CK1) inhibitors with the potential to treat conditions like acute myeloid leukaemia, pancreatic cancer, and certain types of breast cancer. This investment round was supported by the existing and two new investors. The syndicate includes i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio), KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I (KHAN-I), i&i Prague, the Holeček Family Foundation, and BIOINVESTIMED a. s. CasInvent Pharma, a university spin-off focused on developing anti-cancer compounds, has successfully closed the Pre-Series A funding round, raising a total of € 1.6 million from both existing and new investors. Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Masaryk University in Brno and with the support of i&i Prague, CasInvent Pharma specializes in the development of highly selective inhibitors targeting the casein kinase 1 enzyme family. These enzymes play an important role in several disease-related processes, including the migration of leukaemia cells into lymphoid organs. The small-molecule inhibitors are designed to target individual isoforms of CK1 and thereby selectively eradicate leukemic cells. "It's gratifying to have convinced both new and existing partners to support our quest in developing effective treatment options and hope for patients suffering from these cancers with a very low survival rate," says Alexander Scheer, CEO of CasInvent Pharma. He believes these inhibitors have the potential to treat patients with conditions like acute myeloid leukaemia, pancreatic cancer, certain types of breast cancer (TNBC), and other diseases with limited treatment options. "The company's ability to attract new investors reaffirms not just the project's quality, but also the combined expertise of the team at CasInvent Pharma," says Ivan Vohlmuth, a partner at i&i Bio. "The team has worked really hard over the past 18 months and achieved promising data in the development of their CK1 inhibitor portfolio. We are pleased to continue to support the company," add Michael Krebs and Peter Nussbaumer from KHAN-I. Joining the investment round, alongside i&i Bio, KHAN-I and i&i Prague, are two new partners: the Holeček Family Foundation and BIOINVESTIMED a. s. "Supporting this innovative project allows us to participate in the important development of new treatment methods and therapeutic strategies in the field of oncological diseases. At the same time, we are impressed that a Czech entity has embarked on this difficult and financially demanding path. With our engagement we would like to motivate other investors to fund promising life science companies in the Czech Republic," says Ondřej Novák, Director of the Holeček Family Foundation. Contact: Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@iniprague.com , +420 777 472 863 About i&i Bio i&i Bio is a Luxembourg-based venture capital firm that invests in innovative European life sciences companies focused on drug discovery, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. The Fund was created thanks to the cooperation of the biotech incubator i&i Prague and the European Investment Fund (see below). With over € 53 million under management, i&i Bio plans to invest in about 20 early-stage companies. i&i Bio is led by an experienced team of professionals with backgrounds in private equity, healthcare and venture capital supporting entrepreneurs on their journey to global success. Thanks to close cooperation with the fund’s main sponsor, the biotech academic incubator i&i Prague, i&i Bio is supporting and advancing transformative Central European technology companies. For more information visit www.inibio.eu . About CasInvent Pharma CasInvent Pharma is a drug discovery spin-off company established in 2020 by Masaryk University (MU) and Bio-Innovation Centre i&i Prague, s.r.o. (Ltd). The mission of the company is to develop new therapeutic options for the treatment of resistant tumours. The CasInvent platform is based on the use of proprietary, best-in-class highly selective inhibitors of enzymes belonging to the casein kinase 1 (CK1) family that are responsible for the regulation of different cellular mechanisms leading to resistance to targeted therapies. More information at www.casinvent.com . About European Investment Fund i&i Bio is supported by an investment from the EIF, with the support of: lnnovFin Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to help support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing; and the Pan-European Guarantee Fund (EGF), implemented by the EIF with the financial support of the Participating Member States. The objective of EGF is to respond to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that companies in the Participating Member States have sufficient short-term liquidity available to weather the crisis and are able to continue their growth and development in the medium to long-term. About KHAN-I KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund with € 70 million under management. Their mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-I focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. The fund is managed by Khanu Management GmbH, an experienced team of professionals with proven track records in early-stage drug development and academic spin-offs as well as pharma licensing and partnering. KHAN-I received an investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) with the support of InnovFin Equity, and with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Investment Plan for Europe. KHAN-I is also supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS with funds provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Foundation for Research, Technology, and Development), Max Planck Foundation, and Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft mbH. In addition, KHAN-I sustains a preferred partnership with the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft e.V.). More information at www.khanu.de. About Holeček Family Foundation We support people with knowledge, experience and vision in areas we consider important for the development of our society. We provide support in the form of an open opportunity to receive funding from the Foundation and we leave it up to the beneficiaries to decide how to best use the support we grant. We would like to inspire others with our actions, because we believe that giving back to society brings value to us all. Our main area of focus is the Czech educational system. Educated people are a prerequisite for the development of any society and there is therefore a close focus on educational projects in the Foundation’s activities. Good health is a prerequisite for a full and active life of each of us. Therefore, the quality of health care, social care and the health care system is also in the Foundation’s focus. Last but not least, the Foundation supports science and research projects as the main drivers of progress and development in any society. The Foundation mainly supports organisations such as universities or hospitals, which already have a strong potential in the fields mentioned above, but their funding does not always allow them to fully develop their potential. In addition to these main areas of focus, the Board of Trustees also looks at specific innovative projects with the potential of bringing new discoveries or practices. More information at www.holecekfoundation.cz .

i&i Prague, the Technical University of Liberec, and the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Pilsen will support the technology for the prevention of complications in intestinal surgery Markéta Hujerová (Klíčová), founder of the Nanoflexion project. Prague, Czech Republic — October 1, 2025 — The i&i Prague biotechnology incubator, the Technical University of Liberec, and the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Pilsen have signed an incubation agreement to support the commercialization of the Nanoflexion project, an advanced medical nanotechnology aimed at reducing postoperative complications in gastrointestinal surgery. This agreement represents an important milestone in the journey of this technology from research to clinical practice. The Nanoflexion technology, which was developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between material engineers and medical scientists, uses nanofiber materials to overcome long-standing problems in colorectal surgery. "Nanoflexion was born out of an urgent need to prevent serious post-surgical complications that have been troubling patients for decades. This agreement gives us the institutional backing and support we need to translate years of research into clinical reality," said Markéta Hujerová (Klíčová), founder of the Nanoflexion project, who recently presented the project at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. The technology is based on the application of patches that use electrostatically spun nanofibers to create a tissue-friendly protective layer around the surgical site. The patch is applied directly during surgery, where it serves as a protective barrier on the intestinal anastomosis and helps prevent adhesions and leakage of intestinal contents. The project is currently in the preclinical development phase with the aim of initiating the first clinical trials. Comprehensive innovation ecosystem Under the signed agreement, i&i Prague will provide incubation support in the form of expert advice on scientific, legal, commercial, and other issues, while the Technical University of Liberec and the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen will participate in research and preclinical verification of the technology. "At i&i Prague, we focus on supporting breakthrough innovations that can fundamentally improve patient care. Nanoflexion fits perfectly into our vision of supporting scalable and beneficial technologies," said Roberto Fernandez Alvarez, incubation manager at i&i Prague. “The Technical University of Liberec is the cradle of industrial nanofiber production, thanks to the patented technology for producing nanofibers by electrostatic spinning – Nanospider®, which was introduced to the world in 2004 by the team of Professor Oldřich Jirsák from the Faculty of Textile Engineering at TUL. Over the past twenty years, researchers from our university have registered 170 patents, more than 20 of which are in the field of nanofiber production. Nanoflexion is another scientific and research success in the field of nanofibers, which was born in cooperation with other partners, primarily clinical doctors from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Pilsen, in Liberec," said Petr Lenfeld, Vice-Rector for Science and Research at the Technical University of Liberec. "From the perspective of the medical faculty, we see great potential in Nanoflexion technology for reducing postoperative complications in colorectal surgery. We are happy to contribute our experience in its preclinical and future clinical testing," added Prof. MUDr. Václav Liška, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Pilsen. Contact for journalists: Markéta Hujerová (Klíčová), marketa.hujerova@tul.cz , +420 731 231 434 Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@iniprague.com , +420 777 472 863 About the Nanoflexion project Nanoflexion is a MedTech innovation project focused on preventing serious complications during gastrointestinal surgery using biocompatible nanofiber patches. The technology is the result of more than seven years of interdisciplinary research. For more information, visit www.nanoflexion.eu . About i&i Prague i&i Prague is a biotechnology incubator and venture builder founded in 2017 at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The company is dedicated to innovation in the field of drug development, diagnostics, and medical technologies, specializing in supporting startups and spin-offs in the early stages of their development. i&i Prague provides expert advice on scientific, legal, business, and other issues that need to be resolved in order for new companies to grow successfully. It creates a unique network of startups, investors, industry partners, and biotechnology experts, enabling effective collaboration and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit www.iniprague.com . About the Technical University of Liberec It is a public university that was founded in 1953. The university has 7,000 students enrolled in seven faculties. TUL also includes the research Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CXI). TUL is the cradle of industrial-scale nanofiber production. The current QS ranking places TUL among the 1,000 best universities in the world in the 801–1,000 range. In THE World University Rankings, TUL ranks 1,501+. According to a study by the IDEA think tank at the National Economic Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, TUL ranks fifth among Czech institutions, research centers, and companies with the most cited patents, and first among universities in the Czech Republic. For more information, visit www.tul.cz . About the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University The Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen is an important center of medical education and research. It is the only representative of Charles University in the West Bohemian region. The faculty educates graduates who acquire a broad education, knowledge, and basic practical skills in all theoretical, preclinical, and clinical fields of medicine. It carries out scientific and research activities at an international level, creates a creative academic environment, and supports internationalization in both student teaching and scientific activities. For more information, visit www.lfp.cuni.cz .

From the Labs of Roche and Pfizer Back to the Czech Republic: Jan Berka Helps Biotech Startups Grow Globally After spending three decades in the United States—working at companies like Roche, Pfizer, and Adaptive Biotechnologies—Jan Berka has decided to return to the Czech Republic part-time. Today, he serves as Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague. We spoke with him about his journey, professional insights, and why it's important to occasionally look up from the details and focus on the big picture. You’ve had an impressive career in the US. What brought you back to the Czech Republic and led you to join i&i Prague? It was a bit of an impulsive decision. After 30 years in the US, I became genuinely curious about what was happening in biotech back in the Czech Republic. While I visited frequently for holidays, I had lost touch with the local professional scene. At the same time, my wife and I began to miss more regular contact with the Czech landscape, culture, and our friends here. So, when the opportunity to join i&i Prague came up, I didn’t hesitate for a second. You’ve worked for global companies like Roche, Pfizer, and Adaptive Biotechnologies. How has that environment influenced your work at i&i Prague? Above all, it gave me experience. Every work environment I’ve been part of was unique in some way. That gave me valuable insight into what works under different circumstances—and what doesn’t. I now aim to bring that know-how to i&i Prague. Each of our startups is different, and I believe my experience can help support their growth. But we're still at the beginning—I'm curious myself to see how I’ll be able to contribute. As a Project Manager focused on international connections, what do you primarily concentrate on? My role has two main aspects. First, there’s classic project management—guiding the individual projects that go through our incubation program. Second, and just as important, is leveraging the international network I’ve built over the years. It's not just about having good ideas or solutions—you also need to know who to call. That’s my strength. Thanks to longstanding personal connections, I not only know what’s being worked on around the world, but I also know the people behind it. And personal relationships are always the most valuable. I think we often build our own mental ceilings and fail to see beyond them—and that can prevent us from aiming higher. JAN BERKA Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague What has been the most pivotal project or moment in your career so far? Two moments come to mind. The first was my time with the startup 454 Life Sciences. We began as a team of four people with an idea almost no one believed in. But within five years, we launched a genome sequencer that kicked off the entire field of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). That was a truly unique moment—driven by healthy ambition, vision, and the right team. The second breakthrough happened at Pfizer. We were trying to apply genetics to personalized medicine, but it wasn’t yielding great results. Then a colleague suggested we shift our focus to the immunome, the most variable part of the human genome. That opened up a completely new field of research for us. It was a moment that taught me the importance of seeing things from a different perspective. Ultimately, that shift helped us succeed and led to the development of immunome analysis using NGS. Company culture often plays a key role in startups. In your view, what’s the biggest mindset difference between the US and the Czech Republic? More and more, I get the impression that in the Czech Republic, we tend to focus too much on details—technical or personal. We spend hours discussing issues that are not immediately relevant. In the US, the approach is to pursue the vision, the big picture. The details get resolved along the way. It reminds me of a book by Mojmír Hampl called “For Czechs, the Sky Is Too Low.” I think we often build our own mental ceilings and fail to see beyond them—and that can prevent us from aiming higher. You split your time between Prague and Colorado. What do you enjoy about both places, and how do you balance such different worlds? Surprisingly easily—neither my wife nor I can stay in one place for too long. Prague and Colorado are completely different worlds, and we enjoy the best of both. In Prague, we go to the theatre or a great restaurant. Colorado is all about nature, hiking, and the desert. You’re currently learning to fly. What inspired you to take up piloting? I started flying gliders as a student and did it for about 15 years before life pulled me in other directions. Now that I have more time for hobbies again, I decided to return to flying—and fulfill a childhood dream of piloting a plane with an engine. Since I was young, I admired the “big guys” who could just fly wherever they wanted. Meanwhile, we in gliders had to land in a field if the thermals weren’t favorable. So, I didn’t hesitate—I enrolled in ultralight pilot training and I’m currently preparing for the final exam. Flying is highly technical. You need to understand all the instruments and also what’s happening around you. That’s very similar to science, where you have to know what you’re doing and think analytically. JAN BERKA Project Manager for International Contacts at i&i Prague Cycling is another of your passions. Do you see any parallels between your hobbies and your work in science? Absolutely—and very different ones. Flying is highly technical. You need to understand all the instruments and also what’s happening around you. That’s very similar to science, where you have to know what you’re doing and think analytically. In contrast, mountain biking is all about intuition—pure flow. You don’t think; you react. And it’s during those intuitive moments that I often get my best scientific ideas. I usually rush home afterwards so I don’t forget them. What fascinates you most in biotech right now—and why? I’ve spent my whole career working on genome sequencing, hoping it would become a routine diagnostic tool. It hasn’t happened yet, but we’re getting closer. I’m also fascinated—and somewhat alarmed—by CRISPR-Cas genome editing. The first case where a point mutation was corrected in a child’s liver completely blew my mind—but also scared me. I don’t think society is ready for the sheer power of such technologies. It’s not just scientific progress—it’s a social challenge, too. If there was one thing you could do at i&i Prague, what would it be? I’d be happy to be part of a process where an idea turns into a real product or service that truly helps people. I don’t need to be there at the finish line—but if I can help kick something off that has a meaningful impact, I’ll consider it a success. Thank you for the interview. Author: Martin Kovalčík

Czech liquid biopsy startup Elphogene comes under full control of one of the founders February 6, 2023 Czech biotechnology start-up Elphogene who pioneered cancer monitoring through its liquid biopsy technology has announced a change in its shareholder structure. The new and sole owner is now Marek Minarik, one of the two original founders of the company. Elphogene, which based its original business plan on molecular cancer diagnostics and monitoring of cancer therapy for patients with colorectal tumors using its proprietary liquid biopsy technology, has seen unprecedented economic growth over the past two years resulting from COVID-19 PCR tests. The company chief, Marek Minárik, says: "With the outbreak of the covid pandemic we have surprisingly seen a significant decrease in interest in our oncology diagnostics from the referring clinical sites. Based on this, our SARS-CoV-2 virus PCR protocol, which was originally developed only for internal testing of our oncology patients, was then converted into accredited regime and after obtaining a license for the Czech National Institute of Public Health we have become part of the official national network of testing laboratories." Elphogene labs, which greatly benefited from their location near the Václav Havel International Airport in Prague - Ruzyne, processed close to 330,000 PCR tests throughout the pandemic, representing approximately 1% of all COVID PCR tests performed at that time in the Czech Republic. The company was first with accreditation for COVID-19 PCR testing, and also one of the first to introduce and validate the pooling method for preventive screening provided to a number of primary and secondary schools in Prague and the Central Bohemia region. "After the decline in COVID tests during the spring of last year, we decided to focus fully to the research and development of a new generation of our technology for the sensitive detection of tumor-specific markers in the peripheral blood of oncology patients," says Minarik, adding: "At the end of the last year, we succeeded in validating of a completely new approach, for which we are now finalizing European patent application. At the same time, we have already approached several leading players in the field of instrument diagnostics with a possibility of technology transfer." Minarik, one of the two original founders, who until now owned 78% stake in the company, acquired the remaining share from a biotechnology incubator i&i Prague, which was the original angel investor when Elphogene was founded at the beginning of 2020. The founder share buy-back, which took place during the last days of December, represents the second successful exit of the investing fund which was established at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague. i&i Prague: Our mission ends, we wish you much success In the portfolio of the bio-innovation center i&i Prague, Elphogene was among the most mature. "Our investments were at the early stage of the company and helped the transition of its technology from the laboratory to oncology patients and, last but not least, enabled it to respond flexibly to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to this, Elphogene has become one of the leading laboratories in the Czech Republic in the diagnosis of this disease," says Jiri Moos, executive director of i&i Prague and, until recently, also one of Elphogene's executives. The task of i&i Prague is to search for promising technologies and help them with their introduction to the market. This was achieved in this case, the company Elphogene is today a functioning private healthcare facility that has all the necessary accreditations and permits authorizing it to operate its activities. "At this point, our mission ends and we will focus on supporting other unique ideas from our portfolio. We would like to thank Associate Professor Marek Minarik for excellent cooperation and wish the Elphogene company much success in the commercialization of their technology," adds Jiri Moos. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

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PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals, an i&i Prague Supported Start-up, Raises €3M Seed Round to Develop Selective Anti-infectives to Tackle Periodontitis Although periodontitis represents a widespread infectious disease affecting around 30% of the global population, there is no effective treatment for patients available, yet. PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals, a Fraunhofer IZI spin-off, has developed a novel treatment strategy that allows the specific eradication of the major bacterial pathogens of periodontitis and therefore the root of the disease. With the help of bmp Ventures AG via the IBG-Fonds, i&i Prague, Fraunhofer Venture and a strategic partner, the biotech company further proceeds its drug development programs. A world without effective antibiotics becomes an increasingly realistic scenario. Worldwide, 700,000 people annually die of multi-resistant strains against which no antibiotic is effective. There are only few new developments while many of the major pharmaceutical companies have completely abandoned the anti-infective field. The expensive development and the prospect of a drug that can be used solely restrictively seem to make the antibiotics business model unattractive. The valuable reserves that are still available are, therefore, being used even more sparingly. Based on the current austerities caused by a global viral pandemic, the future projections of this solo-economic driven development materialize at a great pace. With its new drug and innovative application procedure, PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH could not only drastically reduce the need for antibiotics. Additionally, with its selective mechanism that targets the major pathogens directly at the site of infection – the oral cavity – chronic conditions may be overcome while simultaneously reducing systemic side effects. The key element of this strategy is an enzyme called glutaminyl cyclase (QC) type II, which is exclusively present within pathogenic bacteria of the oral biofilm with Porphyromonas gingivalis being the main catalyst of the disease. The seed investment will be used for PerioTrap’s lead compound optimization and to progress its new prolonged-release pharmaceutical composition through clinical testing and to apply for subsequent market approval. „We are looking forward to working with this experienced team of drug developers and to particularly make a contribution to such a socially relevant technology area in this financing round“. Andreas van Bon, responsible managing partner at bmp Ventures AG “Periodontitis constitutes a condition of high medical need for which on the contrary hasn’t been any innovation made available in the last decade. Consequently, this investment not only fuels the long neglected therapeutic market segment within the dental realm, but most importantly restores patient confidence.” Pierre Tangermann, Managing Director at PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals As a result of a pan-European project under the FP7 umbrella, PerioTrap is based on an international network and excellent science including the Institute of Microbiology at the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Prof. Jan Potempa), the Institute of Periodontology at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Bern (Prof. Sigrun Eick) and the Pharmaceutical Technology Research Group at the Institute of Pharmacy at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Prof. Karsten Mäder). This leading scientific network will be further expanded. About the IBG Funds The IBG funds based in Magdeburg are the venture capital funds of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. The IBG funds provide equity capital to innovative companies with sustainable and above-average growth potential and a domicile/ operation in Saxony-Anhalt. At the beginning of 2017, IBG launched the new risk capital fund RKF III with a volume of EUR 84 million. The fund is financed by funds from the state and the European Union and invests in innovative companies in Saxony-Anhalt in the business phases of seed, start-up and growth. The IBG funds are managed by bmp Ventures AG. About bmp Ventures With an experience background of over 250 investments from almost all technology segments, most of which are in the early stages, bmp is one of the most experienced venture capital investors in Germany. In addition to direct investments, bmp has also managed venture capital funds for KfW Bankengruppe and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft. bmp currently manages the IBG funds in Saxony-Anhalt and the Frühphasenfonds Brandenburg. bmp has around 20 employees in Berlin and Magdeburg. About Fraunhofer Venture Fraunhofer Venture is the central department for spin-offs and investment management of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and offers founders, start-ups, Fraunhofer Institutes, industry, and investors access to the cutting-edge technologies of the 74 Fraunhofer Institutes, the Fraunhofer infrastructure and Fraunhofer know-how with over 7,000 patent families. The range of services includes complete support and consulting from the idea to the founding of a company, active participation management of Fraunhofer participations, support with finding investors up to a possible sale of the company and is flanked by the AHEAD company builder as well as other offerings.

UCT Prague, a Czech leading chemistry-focused University, entered in memorandum with i&i Prague, s.r.o. We are very proud to announce that at the end of 2020 i&i Prague, s.r.o. started cooperation with one of the top Czech Universities focused on natural sciences: University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague – Všcht . This cooperation will allow us to effectively support their research and possible spin-offs. Right now we support two great scientific UCT projects and we expect a lot from both of them. Check our webpage and social media for more updates about these as soon as possible! Read more and learn more on UCT Prague webpage