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 )

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The Prague.bio Conference 2024 welcomed 300 participants from all over the world The second edition of Prague.bio Conference (i&i Prague is a co-organiser of this event), held on this occasion, brought together global experts on technology transfer and the creation of biotech startups, awarded the best startup presentations and introduced the upcoming educational academy for future spin-off managers. What was accomplished during the year? · The Prague.bio Conference this September welcomed 300 participants from all over the world · The number of members of the organization doubled to 12 · Major players from the pharmaceutical business joined the association - Bristol Myers Squibb and Zentiva · A training academy for future founders and managers of spin-off and start-up companies is in the pipeline for Q1 2025 Prague, 24 September 2024: At the Prague.bio Conference 2024, the professional biotechnology association Prague.bio celebrated its 1-year anniversary. The conference, which took place on 24 September in Prague's Slovansky dum, welcomed 300 visitors from scientists, biotechnology experts and innovators from all over the world. The interest that the event had already registered last year was confirmed and even increased. Biotechnology, as one of the key technologies of the future, has its place and room for further development in the Czech Republic. This year's event focused more on technology transfer to university spin-offs and building successful startups or partnerships between industry and academia, areas that offer considerable potential for better exploitation. "There was a lot of interest in this year's Prague.bio Conference, so logically we see potential for further growth. In addition to the possible expansion of the conference, we are also going to launch an educational programme in the first half of 2025, which will focus on future founders and managers of spin-off companies from Czech research institutes. We therefore want to further develop the topic, which was also covered in detail at this year's conference," says Petra Kinzlová, Director of Prague.bio. The lectures of two experts on the transfer of intellectual property and the startup environment attracted a lot of attention this year. The conference was opened by Christian A. Stein, CEO of Ascenion GmbH, one of the largest technology transfer institutions in Germany, and founder of a several successful biotechnology companies. He spoke about the different models of IP licensing to start-ups from universities and research institutions, giving examples of models from the UK, the US and Israel, and a specific case study of Cardior, a spin-off of the Hannover Medical School, which was acquired this year by Novo Nordisk for €1.025 billion. Another speaker was Silicon Valley expert Petr Jansa, Executive Director for Medicinal Chemistry at Biomea Fusion (a publicly traded biotech company) and co-founder of other innovative start-ups. His expertise builds on his collaboration with Professor Antonín Holý and the development of new drugs at Gilead Sciences. His presentation summarized the sources of innovation that are currently driving the world of biotechnology in Silicon Valley. The conference also offered a showcase of 12 biotech startups from the CEE region. The expert jury then selected the 3 best presentations. The 1st place went to the Polish company nCage Therapeutics, which is developing technology for the creation of new types of vaccines. The jury selected the presentation of the Czech startup LAM-X as the 2nd best, in which they presented its antimicrobial nanotextile for wound dressings, significantly reducing the risk of infection. The third place was awarded to the Czech project ChemCell from the IOCB (Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry), whose team is developing cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer. "Biotechnology is one of the key areas that can make a major contribution to our future, not only in health, but also in strengthening the competitiveness of our economy. Fostering technology transfer between research institutions and industry is essential if we are to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into innovative solutions that can succeed in the marketplace more quickly and efficiently. That's why I am glad that the Prague.bio Conference is of such interest and that in addition to the results of large research institutions or companies, innovative startup companies are also presenting here. I believe that the Czech Republic has great potential in this area," said Marek Ženíšek, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. The conference was held under the auspices of the City of Prague and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the general partner was the global biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb, which is now also a member of the Prague.bio association, and presented its vision of healthcare in the future. "We are pleased to support the Prague.bio 2024 Conference, which gives us the opportunity to get to know innovative ideas from Czech scientific institutions, as well as promising startups from the Central European region. At the conference, we also presented one of our visions of digital health, which combines digital technologies with diagnostic methods and has the potential to change clinical practice and ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient in the future," said Karin Bacmaňáková, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, Czech Republic. Prague.bio Prague.bio was founded in August 2023 with the aim of developing the biotechnology segment in the wider Prague region. The association connects important actors in the public, private and academic spheres and promotes the region as a biotechnology hub on the map of Europe. Members of Prague.bio are the Institute of Biotechnology of the CAS, Bristol Myers Squibb, dubanska & co., i&i Prague, Kapaji, MCB Lab, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the CAS, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, University of Chemical Technology in Prague, Wolf Theiss and Zentiva. Media contact: Kristina Svobodová Marketing manager Prague.bio +420 725 935 900 svobodova@prague.bio

CasInvent Pharma receives the Neuron Award for excellent Technology Transfer The laureates of the prestigious Neuron Awards in 2021 have been announced. Since 2009, the Neuron Endowment Fund has been rewarding the first-class Czech researchers for their contributions to science. For the first time this year, the Neuron Award has also been given for the collaboration of academic researchers and industrial partners. The award recognized Vítězslav Bryja, Kamil Paruch and Radoslav Trautmann for the close collaboration between the Masaryk University in Brno (MU) and the incubator and investor i&i Prague, and for their work on the establishment of the spin-off company CasInvent Pharma . Masaryk University, the second largest university in the Czech Republic, is one of the foremost research-oriented Czech universities. i&i Prague is a biotech incubator and hub in the Central European Region, scouting and supporting projects with excellent innovative potential in the fields of MedTech, Diagnostics and Drug Discovery. These two well-known organizations have joined forces working on the establishment of CasInvent Pharma, one of the first spin-offs of its kind, to enable further development of small-molecule compounds with anticancer properties. The core of the technology licensed to CasInvent from MU is a proprietary class of highly potent and selective inhibitors of casein kinases 1. These compounds are being developed for the treatment of selected types of leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors. The entire team of CasInvent Pharma, including the laureates Vítězslav Bryja, Kamil Paruch, Radoslav Trautmann and further composed of Pavlína Janovská (MU) and David Stíbal (i&i Prague) is currently progressing their lead compound through the advanced stages of preclinical development.

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.

The Prague.bio international conference will bring together the best of science and business in Prague. Promising ideas will receive money for their development. Prague, 25 April 2023. The first edition of the Prague.bio international conference will offer a unique meeting of representatives from science and business who will exchange their experiences in the development of new drugs, diagnostics, medical technologies and other areas of biotechnology. The event is supported by the Czech government and will feature renowned experts from the world of BioTech. The Prague.bio international conference is intended for academics, investors and industry representatives from all over Central Europe. Experienced investors, representatives of leading pharmaceutical as well as diagnostic companies and technology transfer offices will meet promising startups, scientists and students to help them with advice and insights in commercializing their scientific ideas. For industry representatives and investors, the conference will provide an interesting space for exchanging ideas and establishing further cooperation. "Science and business are often two completely different worlds. But they need each other and have something to offer each other. Scientific projects are often a source of unique commercial ideas and an interesting investment opportunity, while successful commercialisation of scientific knowledge brings significant financial resources back into research," explains Prof. Martin Fusek, Director of IOCB Tech, one of the organisers of the conference. According to him, the Prague.bio conference should contribute to the creation of a permanent network of partners whose goal will be to build a more effective transfer of biotechnology not only in the Czech Republic but also in the entire Central European area. The transfer is also supported by the government "Who does not transfer is not a good economist. The transfer of scientific research knowledge into practice is one of the priorities of our government and I am pleased that a conference is being prepared to help this even on an international scale," explains Helena Langšádlová, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation of the Czech Republic, whose department is co-organizing the event. Moreover, according to the Minister, technology transfer is an important topic not only for science but also for the national economy. It can generate billions of Czech crowns in revenue annually. The Prague conference is based on the experience of similar events abroad. However, it is unique in Central Europe. "At the moment, we can reveal that the Prague.bio conference will not lack lectures by representatives of major pharmaceutical companies, we are also preparing an interesting panel discussion with foreign investors and several pitch sessions that will provide an opportunity to present promising projects in the field of biotechnology," adds Jaromír Zahrádka, CEO of the i&i Biotech Fund and founder of the i&i Prague bio-innovation centre, another of the conference organisers. The conference will take place on 26 September at Liechtenstein Palace in Prague. Registration is now open for those interested in attending. The relevant form, including payment options, can be found at www.prague.bio . The fee for early registration is 200 Euros, or 150 Euros for students and researchers. Interesting scientific research ideas can also apply for the event and register at the above-mentioned website. The registered projects will be evaluated by an expert committee and the best ones will compete for investor support at the conference. Contact Martin Kovalčík, 777 472 863, kovalcik@iniprague.com Martin Opatrný, 602 252 405, opatrny@prclinic.eu About IOCB Tech The Technology Transfer Office IOCB Tech, s.r.o. is a fully owned subsidiary of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB). The main responsibilities of IOCB Tech include the identification of commercially interesting projects at IOCB, analysis of their market potential and patentability, protection of intellectual property, support for the development of the projects in the form of project management, search for commercial partners and negotiation of contractual terms for signing license agreements. IOCB Tech has been involved in the process of negotiating and concluding more than a dozen key license agreements with major pharmaceutical partners such as Gilead Sciences, Merck, Novo Nordisk and SHINE Medical Technologies. In 2017, the company established a subsidiary, i&i Prague, which focuses on funding promising early-stage projects at the Institute and other research and academic institutions. For more information visit www.iocbtech.cz . About i&i Prague The i&i Prague Bio-Innovation Center focuses on the transfer of new technologies into practice. The company was established at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS and is mainly dedicated to innovations in the field of drug development, diagnostics and medical devices originating from academic institutions. It supports the creation of spin-off companies and the sale of licenses. So far, the company has participated in the creation of or otherwise supported 15 spin-off companies from five countries, has an equity stake in nine of them and has invested over 70 million crowns. In total, the spin-offs in i&i Prague's portfolio have raised more than CZK 1.8 billion from other investors. In addition to direct financial investments, i&i Prague also assists more than 15 research institutions and universities in the Czech Republic and abroad in the commercialization of innovative technologies. In 2021, i&i Prague started up the i&i Bio investment fund. About i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio) i&i Bio is a Luxembourg-based venture capital firm that invests in innovative European Life Sciences companies focused on drug discoveries, 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 €47M 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 EIF 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.

i&i Prague and the Nencki Institute launch collaboration to develop an innovative test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease Prague/Warsaw, July 14, 2025 – Czech biotech incubator and venture builder i&i Prague has begun a collaboration with the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. This partnership, which builds on the long-standing relationship between the Nencki Institute and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, aims to support the development of a technology focused on creating a diagnostic test capable of detecting Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. i&i Prague is a seasoned incubator focused on transferring scientific discoveries into practice. Founded around the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, it supports innovations in drug development, diagnostics, and medical technologies. The organization helps researchers transform their ideas into functioning companies, provides expert advice, connects them with investors and specialists, and guides them on the journey from lab to real-world patients. “Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine, yet no reliable tool for its early detection exists today. The project initiated at the Nencki Institute brings hope for change. We are proud to support the research team in transforming this discovery into a real product,” said Iva Machová, Incubation Manager and Regional Manager for Poland at i&i Prague. “We believe that the incubation of this project is just the beginning of a long journey that will help unique Polish scientific ideas to find their way from the lab to the market,” she added. The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology is one of the foremost research institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, maintaining a long-standing focus on neuroscience and translational research in metabolic diseases. Through its interdisciplinary approach and international collaborations, the institute has successfully generated discoveries with strong application potential. The project concentrating on the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is the outcome of intensive research, which is now entering a new phase thanks to the support of i&i Prague. “Our goal is to transform cutting-edge science into real benefits for society. The project aimed at the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease possesses not only high scientific value but also immense societal impact. Thanks to our collaboration with i&i Prague, we now have a genuine opportunity to bring this technology to patients – and that is our true motivation,” said Agnieszka Dobrzyń, Director of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology. Contact for journalists: Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@iniprague.com , +420 777 472 863

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 .

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 !

Czech i&i Prague and the Polish Medical Innovation Institute join forces to support cutting-edge scientific innovation in the region Iva Machová (i&i Prague) and Jakub Chwiećko (Medical Innovation Institute) during PACTT conference in Poland. Prague/Warsaw, 20 February 2025 – The partnership between i&i Prague and the Polish Medical Innovation Institute (MII) aims to support the commercialization of unique Polish innovations. The companies want to identify biotech projects with the potential to achieve global success and contribute to their development. In the long term, they want to strengthen the links between the Czech Republic and Poland in this field and create a bridge between basic research and its commercial application. i&i Prague is dedicated to helping scientists transform their groundbreaking discoveries into market-ready solutions. The company offers step-by-step guidance to help with the commercialization of innovations, from shaping the scientific idea into a business concept to connecting inventors with top-tier experts in science, law, and industry. With this step, i&i Prague is expanding its activities beyond the borders of the Czech Republic, seeing Poland as a strategic partner. "Until now, we have focused mainly on the Czech environment, which we are trying to co-create and move forward in the long term. Now we are offering our expertise to Poland. We believe that just like in the Czech Republic, we will find unique scientific projects with a high level of innovation. We are ready to help them transform into successful startups and spin-offs," said Iva Machová, Incubation Manager and Regional Manager for Poland at i&i Prague. The Medical Innovation Institute (MII) is a Polish organization dedicated to advancing the commercialization of innovative research in the healthcare sectors. We support scientists and entrepreneurs by offering expert guidance, securing funding, and fostering strategic partnerships to transform innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. MII works closely with both local and international stakeholders, ensuring that innovations are not only successful in the Polish market but also have the potential for global impact. "Cooperation with i&i Prague marks another significant step in our efforts to internationalize Polish scientific projects. With their deep expertise in commercialization, we are confident that, together, we can pave the way for Polish innovations to enter global markets," said Michał Jeska, Chief Growth Officer at Medical Innovation Institute. Contact for journalists: Martin Kovalčík, kovalcik@iniprague.com , +420 777 472 863

i&i Prague and ÚHKT Join Forces to Bring an Innovative Sample Preparation Technology to Market Prague, March 18, 2025 – i&i Prague, a leading Czech biotech incubator, has announced a collaboration with the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ÚHKT) to commercialize an innovative liquid microextraction technology. Developed by Dr. Matyáš Krijt and Associate Professor Daniel Vyoral, this technology enables fast and efficient separation of two immiscible liquids without the loss of analytes, even in a parallel setup suitable for robotics and automation. The further development and production of the final commercial product will be handled by Medirekt Partner. By combining cutting-edge academic research, expert technology transfer, and industrial know-how, this project paves the way for successful commercialization. It serves as another example of how collaboration between the public and private sectors can bring scientific discoveries closer to real-world applications and improve the efficiency of laboratory processes. Faster, More Cost-Effective, and Eco-Friendly Liquid Separation “The new patented technology represents a major breakthrough in sample preparation for analytical laboratories. Unlike traditional methods, it utilizes a unique principle based on a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface treatment of a capillary opening. The absence of a frit or membrane prevents analyte retention and enables parallel processing of samples using liquid microseparation techniques,” explain the technology's inventors, Matyáš Krijt and Daniel Vyoral. A Technology with Significant Market Potential The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion plays a crucial role in this project, actively supporting the commercialization of the technology. “ÚHKT recognizes this technology, developed within the TAČR Gama project, as a significant innovation with real market potential. It can be used in virtually any laboratory involved in analytical sample preparation, offering a faster, more precise and cost-efficient alternative to current technologies,” says Petr Lesný, Head of Technology Transfer at ÚHKT. i&i Prague as a Key Accelerator of Technology Transfer i&i Prague specializes in supporting innovations in biotechnology, including the development of laboratory diagnostics and new therapeutics. “We see great potential in this technology and are excited to help bring another innovation from a Czech research institution to life,” says Jiří Moos, CEO of i&i Prague. “We have acquired the intellectual property rights from ÚHKT, and together with our project partners, we believe this innovation can be transformed into a successful commercial product.” Collaboration with Medirekt Partner for Market Entry Industrial partnerships are essential for successfully bringing this technology to market. Medirekt Partner is responsible for product development, manufacturing, and ensuring that the final product meets customer needs. “The technology has successfully undergone laboratory testing and is now being refined for commercial use. We aim to create a product that meets the highest demands of analytical laboratories while offering a more economical (up to ten times more cost-effective) and environmentally friendly (up to a tenfold reduction in the volumes of solvents currently used) solution for sample preparation,” says Jiří Sopuch from Medirekt Partner. Press Contacts Martin Kovalčík – kovalcik@iniprague.com , +420 777 472 863 Jiří Sopuch – jiri.sopuch@medirektpartner.cz, +420 605 826 081 About i&i Prague i&i Prague is a biotech incubator and venture builder founded in 2017 at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The company focuses on innovations in drug development, diagnostics, and medical technologies, specializing in supporting early-stage startups and spin-offs. i&i Prague provides expert guidance on scientific, legal, business, and strategic issues essential for successful company growth. It has built a unique network of startups, investors, industry partners, and biotech experts, fostering efficient collaboration and knowledge-sharing. In 2021, i&i Prague co-founded the investment fund i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio). www.iniprague.com About the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ÚHKT) The Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ÚHKT) in Prague is a renowned institution specializing in diagnostics, treatment, and research in hematology, blood transfusion, and stem cell therapy. As a center of excellence, ÚHKT focuses on caring for patients with blood disorders, oncological diseases, and immune-related conditions while ensuring high-quality transfusion medicine. With a long-standing tradition and modern infrastructure, ÚHKT contributes significantly to innovative research and the implementation of new therapeutic methods, making a profound impact on medical advancements in the Czech Republic. www.uhkt.cz About Medirekt Partner Medirekt Partner has been engaged in the production and development of medical devices since 2013. The company has collaborated on various medical applications with renowned organizations such as IOCB Prague and universities. Medirekt Partner also provides expert consulting services for product manufacturing, lean production optimization (Lean Six Sigma principles), and automation. The company strives to be part of unique projects with high added value and is a member of the Prague.bio cluster. www.medirektpartner.cz

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