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i&i Bio, the newly estabilished investment fund powered by i&i Prague and EIF It is our pleasure to announce the start of operations of i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio ) in September 2021. This is a great success of i&i Prague team and it brings a new quality and a unique opportunity for early-phase deep-tech spin-offs in Czechia and rest of the Europe. i&i Bio focuses on unique technologies in the fields of Medtech, Diagnostics and Drug discovery. i&i Bio manages more than 45 million EUR and the fund is prepared to invest an average of 2 million EUR (more than 50 million CZK) in a specific project, but in exceptional cases the amount may grow to as much as 4.5 million EUR for a single project. The fund will be joined by further investors in near future including CUIP , the daughter company of the Charles University in Prague. Further details and press release could be found here ! 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 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 €45M 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 the close cooperation with the fund’s 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 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.

IOCB Tech Group Successfully Represents the Czech Republic at the Prestigious Biotech Conference BIO-Europe 2023 Over 5,000 participants from more than 50 countries and a total of over 30,000 official meetings – that was the outcome of this year's edition of the international BIO-Europe conference in Munich. The Czech Republic was represented by the companies IOCB Tech, i&i Prague, and i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio), which are entities associated with the IOCB Tech Group under the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The Czech stand at the event was also supported by representatives of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Munich. “IOCB Tech Group regularly participates in BIO-Europe. It is a useful opportunity for us to meet with leading representatives of the biotech, medtech, and life sciences world, as well as investors and scientific research clusters. Thanks also go to the organizers, the EBD Group,” said Martin Fusek, director of IOCB Tech. “BIO-Europe represents a great opportunity for us to meet startups at the forefront of Biotech. Specially, in the CEE region we have found great founders who are shaking the field with their innovative technologies. The event also gives us a chance to reach out to startups which might not have been ready for investment when we originally talked to them, but after some time it is fascinating to see their progress,” adds Roberto Fernandez Alvarez, who represented the incubator i&i Prague with other colleagues. “This year's BIO-Europe was also unique due to the inclusion of a new section of panel discussions on so-called translational funds. These are investors who provide fund financing for the translational phase of research and the technology transfer process. Besides our i&i Bio, four other funds from Germany, Austria, and Belgium were presented, which were also established at significant scientific institutions,” says Jaromír Zahrádka, director of i&i Biotech Fund, adding: “It is evident that such funds have their place in the European venture capital market and often become the initial investor in new projects and biotechnological spin-off companies, which then get the chance to appeal to a broader group of less specialized investors.” The IOCB Tech team conducted more than a hundred meetings and negotiations over three days. “We are particularly grateful for the discussion with the EBD Group regarding the potential hosting of the BIO-Europe conference in Prague, and we are pleased that this vision is also supported by significant clusters such as LISAvienna – Life Science Austria Vienna, BioM Biotech Cluster, Biosaxony association, and many others,” added Martin Opatrný, spokesperson for IOCB Tech. “BIO-Europe represents a great opportunity for us to meet startups at the forefront of Biotech. Specially, in the CEE region we have found great founders who are shaking the field with their innovative technologies. The event also gives us a chance to reach out to startups which might not have been ready for investment when we originally talked to them, but after some time it is fascinating to see their progress,” Roberto Fernandez Alvarez i&i Prague Discussions on cooperation also took place, for example, with the company Symeres, a leading research organization focused on the discovery and development of new drugs. Representatives of the Consulate General in Munich also expressed their support for the IOCB Tech Group, whose visit was a significant recognition of the activities of the IOCB Tech Group. “We are glad to be part of this significant event and present, thanks to IOCB Tech, Czech excellence in the field of life sciences and pharmacy, and thus show the world the innovations and potential of Czech science and technology transfer,” said consul Lukáš Opatrný from the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Munich. BIO-Europe is an annual meeting of visionaries, innovators, and experts in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical research from around the world. Over the past 29 years, BIO-Europe has grown not only in size but especially in becoming the flagship of European biotech. Its international reach is a symbolic gateway to the global life science community. 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.

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

New startup in our portfolio: Sophomer's technology will make immunoassays faster, easier and cheaper The originators of SophoMer in their chemical laboratory. Prague, February 7, 2023. The academic startup Sophomer today announced the signing of a licensing agreement to commercialize a technology that can replace the traditionally used bovine serum albumin (BSA) in immunoassays. The newly licensed technology has been developed in collaboration between the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS (IMC), Elisa Development and the bio-innovation center i&i Prague. The signing of the license agreement also officially accelerated the activities of the startup. Sophomer has also joined the portfolio of i&i Prague. BSA is one of the oldest industrially derived proteins. In immunoassays it is primarily used as a blocker, which makes the measurements more accurate by suppressing unwanted signals. It is derived from bovine serum, which poses a number of problems. These include the risk of pathogen transmission, which means that this material must be tested rigorously and expensively and its use is subject to certification to confirm its safety. "Logically, there is no such risk with our technology, as our product is fully synthetic. This eliminates other problems, whether it is the variability in reproduction of production, the relatively high price, which increases with the requirement for higher purity, or the complex disposal of the material. The ethical aspect of the whole matter is also not negligible," says Jan Plicka of Elisa Development and a leading expert in the development of diagnostic devices. Sophomer's technology will find application wherever immunoassays is a basic working tool. It has the potential to greatly assist in biochemical laboratories, in the development of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) devices, in the monitoring of environmental contaminations, in food laboratories for the determination of allergen content, or in immunoassays in veterinary laboratories. "Our ambitions continue to grow as our research progresses, but the main idea remains the same: to make the work of our fellow developers and researchers faster, easier and, to a large extent, cheaper. We want them to be able to focus without distraction on their own ideas and the challenges that their demanding, extremely important and at the same time low-visibility work brings to the public," adds Martin Burkhard, CEO of Sophomer. A great example of technology transfer The creation of the start-up Sophomer is a prime example of technology transfer and the linking of science and industry. "At the beginning of the story there was a need for diagnostic test manufacturers, which we were able to identify thanks to our network of contacts. We then searched academia for a technology suitable to address this need. We found a suitable technology at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry and, after successful validation tests, we assembled a joint development team," says Jiří Moos from the i&i Prague Bio-Innovation Center, which has been behind the project from the very beginning. Among other things, i&i Prague also participated in the creation of a startup that has been included in the portfolio of this bio-innovation center. "We are currently helping to find customers for the developed polymer Sophomer F10, while continuing to co-develop other products. We are also well on our way to arranging the first investment that will help kick-start the company's activities," adds Jiří Moos. Synthesis of a polymer product at a defined temperature in a bath. A team of scientists at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry began developing the technology that led to the establishment of Sophomer about two years ago. "I am very pleased that we have managed to bring our joint efforts to the successful signing of a licensing agreement. We have thus taken an important step towards ensuring that the quality work of our scientists finds its application in real life. This builds on our previous successful transfers of basic research results into practice. I believe that this technology from the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry will significantly simplify the performance of immunoassays," adds Jiří Kotek, Director of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS. Contact Martin Kovalčík, 777 472 863, kovalcik@iniprague.com The signing of a licensing agreement from the right: Jiří Moos, Martin Burkhard, Jiří Kotek, Jan Plicka and Alexandr Krajhanzl The signing of a licensing agreement Jiří Kotek, Director of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS The signing of a licensing agreement Alexandr Krajhanzl, i&i Prague The signing of a licensing agreement from the right: Jiří Moos, Martin Burkhard, Jiří Kotek, Jan Plicka and Alexandr Krajhanzl 1/6 About Sophomer Sophomer Ltd. is an academic startup founded by a group of people who come from both industry and academia. Their vision is to bring together two seemingly unrelated fields: immunoassays and polymer chemistry to help anyone who uses immunochemical assays in their work. One of the startup's first and widely applicable products is SophoMer(TM), a polymer that can replace the widely used bovine serum albumin in immunochemical assays, currently a component without which the development of immunological analytics is seemingly unimaginable. Read more here: www.sophomer.com . About Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS, v. v. i. (IMC) The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS, v. v. i. (IMC) is the largest research institution in the field of polymer and polymer materials research in the Czech Republic. In this field, it is also among the most important academic research centres in the world. IMC has a knowledge potential of more than 120 scientists in the key fields of macromolecular chemistry, physical chemistry and polymer physics, as well as in related fields such as biochemistry or biomedical or materials engineering. Although the institute is primarily focused on basic research, it also works closely with the application sphere, as evidenced by a number of applied basic research results. Read more here: www.imc.cas.cz/eng . 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 Elisa Development Elisa Development, in cooperation with the Food Research Institute Prague, has previously developed and marketed several ELISA format immunoassay kits for the quantitative detection of food allergens in food and food raw materials. During this development, the company's staff has repeatedly faced the problem of variable quality of BSA, which is very often used as a blocker of non-specific interactions. These problems were the impetus for the idea of replacing BSA derived from bovine serum with a synthetic polymer, which led to the approach to i&i Prague and subsequently to the collaboration with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry.

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 !

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 )

Our "Swiss Journey" Continues: From CometX to the Innovation Biotech Day 2025 At the invitation of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Switzerland, we participated in the 5th annual CometX – Come and Meet Expats conference, organized by the CometX platform under the patronage of both the Czech and Slovak embassies. The event attracted a record 330 participants – primarily students and young researchers working in Swiss institutions. Among the distinguished speakers were former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Radek Špíšek, CEO of Sotio, and etiquette expert Daniel Šmíd. Our goal was to reach out to young scientists and professionals and present the opportunities awaiting them in the Czech Republic – whether through involvement in scientific and innovation projects or by founding their own startups. The discussions often focused on the differences between the Czech and Swiss startup ecosystems, and on what Czech projects need to succeed internationally. We made several valuable new connections and were pleased to contribute to building greater trust in the Czech innovation environment. We’re committed to continuing this dialogue – the next step will be our participation in the 2nd Czech-Swiss Innovation Biotech Day 2025 , taking place on October 23, 2025, at the BIOCEV research centre in Prague. This conference will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, and education experts from the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and beyond. The agenda will focus on technologies, innovations, tech transfer, and building a successful innovation ecosystem in Europe. The event is organized by the STAR research and innovation cluster in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

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

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

i&i Prague announces its first exit, DIANA Biotechnologies is bought out by its founders Prague, 21 February 2022 – BTND a.s. has completed the buyout of DIANA Biotechnologies from the portfolio of biotech incubator i&i Prague. For i&i Prague, the transaction opens up new opportunities to support other scientific projects. i&i Prague acquired a stake in DIANA Biotechnologies at its inception, reflecting the important role of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB) in the early development of DIANA technology prior to the company’s establishment. However, DIANA Biotechnologies has gradually become a successful biotechnology company that is independently developing a number of other new technologies. It has also made a positive contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic by developing unique PCR assays, significantly increasing the Czech testing capacity. DIANA Biotechnologies is now facing major investments in further development and it made sense for i&i Prague to make its first exit. BTND a. s., a company backed by DIANA Biotechnologies co-founders Václav Navrátil and Martin Dienstbier, together with the Czech investment group BTCZ, is buying the stake from i&i Prague. „In less than four years DIANA Biotechnologies has moved from a spin-off project to a broad-based and independent company. We are now facing heavy investment in building a state-of-the-art scientific facility and in developing projects in drug development and monoclonal antibody development. Our goal is to build an innovative biopharmaceutical company that will work closely with Czech academia. I am pleased that our success will also help other promising scientific projects,“ said Václav Navrátil, co-founder and director of DIANA Biotechnologies. The transaction is also considered a great success by the incubator i&i Prague, where it is the first purchase of a share of the company from their portfolio. “We were honored to be at the birth of this project. It is the first swallow, which completes several years of efforts of our entire team and which also confirms the sense and correctness of our steps and vision. We will use the funds raised through this transaction to support other interesting startups and spin-off companies from the academic sphere in the Czech Republic and Europe,“ explained Jaromír Zahrádka, founder and director of i&i Prague. About i&i Prague The i&i Prague biotech incubator was founded in 2017 and has become part of a unique ecosystem that has formed around the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB). Since its establishment, this incubator has been dedicated to investing in academia and supporting the transition of scientific discoveries into practice. Currently, i&i Prague has in its portfolio the shares of 10 spin-off companies, promising projects from all over Europe or the USA, in which it has invested a total of approximately EUR 3 million. In addition, it has helped these early stage companies to raise another approximately EUR 75 million from investors not only from Europe but from all over the world. About DIANA Biotechnologies The i&i Prague biotech incubator was founded in 2017 and has become part of a unique ecosystem that has formed around the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB). Since its establishment, this incubator has been dedicated to investing in academia and supporting the transition of scientific discoveries into practice. Currently, i&i Prague has in its portfolio the shares of 10 spin-off companies, promising projects from all over Europe or the USA, in which it has invested a total of approximately EUR 3 million. In addition, it has helped these early stage companies to raise another approximately EUR 75 million from investors not only from Europe but from all over the world.

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.

We are i&i Prague, a biotech incubator and venture builder located right in the heart of Europe. Our objective is to identify the potential of new inventions in Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, MedTech and other Life Science fields. i&i Prague Let your invention grow! We are a biotech incubator and venture builder, helping groundbreaking ideas leap from lab to market. We focus on innovations in drug development, diagnostics, medical technologies, and other life sciences , specialising in supporting start-ups in the early stages of their development . We provide expert consulting in scientific, legal, business, and other areas essential for the successful growth of new companies. We build a unique network of startups, investors, industrial partners, and biotechnology experts, enabling effective collaboration and knowledge sharing. Our support For scientists who want to commercialise their innovations, we offer step-by-step support in setting up a company. Our incubation program includes the following support: MARKET INFORMATION Get relevant market analysis & market need. INDUSTRY INTEREST Gain early-on industry feedback. INITIAL FUNDING Obtain the initial funding for your startup. INVESTOR CONTACTS Be ready to meet your first investors. Read more Latest news BLOG Our "Swiss Journey" Continues: From CometX in Zurich to the Innovation Biotech Day 2025 in Prague Read more PRESS RELEASE i&i Prague, TUL, and the Faculty of Medicine of CU in Pilsen will support the Nanoflexion technology Read more INTERVIEW "I love the feeling you get when you discover something new," says Kamila Burdová, our new incubation manager Read more INTERVIEW From the labs of Roche and Pfizer back to Czechia: Jan Berka helps biotech startups grow globally Read more Our Portfolio Read more i&i Biotech Fund I In 2021, we established the i&i Biotech Fund in cooperation with the European Investment Fund. It is the venture capital firm that invests in innovative European life sciences companies focused on drug discovery, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. Read more Our partners ACADEMIA INVESTORS INDUSTRY/BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS