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

< Back Jiří Růžička Project Manager Jiri Ruzicka is a Project manager at i&i Prague. He is responsible for the analysis of projects, mainly from the scientific and technological aspect. Before joining our company Jiri worked as a Research Associate at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (IEM, part of the Czech Academy of Sciences), as well as within the international research center of IEM, University of Cambridge, and University of Leeds, called Neurorecon. He holds BSc. and MSc. Degrees from the Faculty of Science, Charles University. He has done his Ph.D. at IEM, AS CR, and the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. During his postdoc as a member of the Neurorecon team he spent several months at Imperial College London and had close collaboration with the University of Cambridge, including several short research stays. He has 14+ years’ experience in the fields of neuroscience and regenerative medicine with a broad focus on brain/spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. He has been dealing with enzymatic, gene, or cell therapies, biomaterial applications, and genetic models of neurodegenerative disorders.

Elphogene, s.r.o. received a TA CR grant for “Sample prep system and technology for cancer testing by liquid biopsy”! Elphogene, s.r.o., an i&i Prague supported start-up, just received grant from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (referred to as the “TA CR“) for the project “Sample prep system and technology for cancer testing by liquid biopsy”. Congratulations! Prague, September 10, 2020 – Elphogene, s.r.o. in cooperation with Thomayer Hospital and the Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the CAS, v. v. i. (IAC) received a grant from the TA CR within the Program for the Support of Industrial Research and Experimental Development TREND. The aim of the 4-year project is the development of new methods and technological procedures for the diagnosis of cancer, based on liquid biopsy – a non-invasive testing for the presence of a tumor in a patient’s body. “Receiving financial support for our project will allow us to continue adapting and further developing our oncoMonitor™ technology test, which we currently provide to cancer patients to monitor treatment and early detection of disease recurrence.“ says Marek Minarik, principal investigator of the project, Co-Founder and CEO of Elphogene. The newly developed methodology will be universally applicable in the sample preparation process and compatible with the current most commonly used methods for liquid biopsy. The ultimate result will be an increase in the analytical sensitivity of the test, which will enable the extension of clinical utility. The project, which represents a unique involvement of the three different types of entities – a commercial start-up, a research academic institution, and a top medical facility, thus has a social dimension as well. “The development of a new version of the test, carried out as part of the supported project, aims at a possibility of using a liquid biopsy in earlier stages of cancer, or even for the diagnosis in asymptomatic individuals. This, in turn, can contribute not only to reducing mortality and improving patient health care but also soften the economic impact due to reducing the overall cost of the health care in relation to this highly serious disease.” says Tomas Buchler, Head of the Department of Oncology of the First Medical Faculty of Charles University and Thomayer Hospital. The project will also be the first where Thomayer Hospital participates in a research and development leading to the commercialization of a service or product with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Without the direct involvement of this Comprehensive Oncology Center, it would not be possible to perform clinical validations that are key to the planned outcomes.

We’ll show you what’s new with us here, offer you interesting media outlets that relate to our work, and you can find our press releases here. Our news We help invention grow! Welcome to the News section of i&i Prague – your go-to source for the latest updates straight from our incubator! This is where we keep you informed about everything happening at i&i Prague. Stay up to date with how we are driving innovation and turning scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Whether you're a researcher, investor, or entrepreneur, this is the place to discover what’s new at i&i Prague. Highlights Podcast CHEMAGAZÍNtalks podcast presents Jan Berka: "At one point, we held the unofficial record for the longest DNA reading." Read More Interview "I love the feeling you get when you discover something new," says Kamila Burdová, the new incubation manager at i&i Prague. Read More Blog Our "Swiss Journey" Continues: From CometX at the University of Zurich to the Innovation Biotech Day 2025 in Prague Read More Press release i&i Prague and the Nencki Institute launch collaboration to develop an innovative test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease Read More Press release i&i Prague, Technical University of Liberec, and the Faculty of Medicine of CU in Pilsen will support the Nanoflexion technology Read More Interview Jiří Růžička: The Start-up/Spin-off Gives Scientists the Opportunity to Help Shape the Path of Their Discovery Read More Other news Mar 18 2025 i&i Prague, ÚHKT and Medirekt Partner Join Forces to Bring an Innovative Sample Preparation Technology to Market Read More Feb 25 2025 Czech i&i Prague and the Polish Medical Innovation Institute join forces to support cutting-edge scientific innovation in the region Read More Feb 2 2025 CHEmic podcast with Milan Prasil about how to turn a scientific discovery into a successful start-up/spin-off Read More Jan 20 2025 Neuron 2024 Award for Bridging Science and Business Goes to SophoMer, s.r.o., a Startup from i&i Prague's Portfolio Read More Nov 23 2024 David Stíbal: We believe a startup is one of the best paths nowadays to develop interesting technologies beyond the academic level Read More Nov 7 2024 i&i Prague and other Prague.bio members participate in a business mission with Czech president in Switzerland Read More Oct 30 2024 Jiří Moos: From the lab to the market: What biotech commercialization looks like from the perspective of an incubator Read More Oct 21 2024 PANC-CKI Consortium led by CasInvent Pharma Secures €4M Eurostars Grant for Pancreatic Cancer Research Read More Sep 24 2024 The Prague.bio Conference 2024 welcomed approximately 300 participants from all over the world Read More Mar 11 2024 This fall Prague will be the stage for a showcase of cutting-edge biotechnologies featuring prominent figures such as ... Read More Now 30, 2024 CasInvent Pharma raises € 1.6 million from i&i Prague and Other Investors to Support the Development of CK1 Inhibitors for ... Read More Now 30, 2023 IOCB Tech Group Successfully Represents the Czech Republic at the Prestigious Biotech Conference BIO-Europe 2023 Read More Apr 25, 2023 The Prague.bio international conference will bring together the best of science and business in Prague Read More Feb 7, 2023 New startup in our portfolio: Sophomer's technology will make immunoassays faster, easier and cheaper Read More Feb 6, 2023 Czech liquid biopsy startup Elphogene comes under full control of one of the founders Read More Earlier News

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 !

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

"I love the feeling you get when you discover something new," says Kamila Burdová, the new incubation manager at i&i Prague Kamila joined i&i Prague in May this year. She brings over a decade of scientific experience in molecular biology, genome stability, and DNA repair, gained at leading research institutions including the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague, the University of Oxford, and the University of Sussex. “I want to be part of a team that can turn a unique scientific idea into a real product that will help people,” says Kamila about her work at i&i Prague. Kamila, in your CV, we find some interesting addresses such as Oxford and Sussex. What made you return to the Czech Republic? I spent a total of four years in England, specifically from 2018 to 2022. One year I was at Oxford and three at the University of Sussex. There were two reasons for my return. The first important factor was Brexit and everything that came with it. Prices skyrocketed, and some goods became unavailable. It all brought enormous uncertainty, which I didn’t want to endure long-term. The second reason was that I was approached by a former colleague who was expanding her activities to Switzerland and was looking for someone to help her run her laboratory in Prague. Am I right in understanding that a scientist working in the United Kingdom had trouble financing everyday life after Brexit? Unfortunately yes. I moved to the UK shortly after the referendum and left a few months after the Hard Brexit. I lived in some of the most expensive parts of the country, and sadly, living there as a postdoctoral researcher became economically unsustainable. So you returned to the Czech Republic to work in academia. Why did you decide to leave and join i&i Prague? I had been thinking about leaving academia for some time, mainly due to uncertainty about the future. The negatives started to outweigh the positives, and the academic environment stopped fulfilling me personally. So when I came across the position at i&i Prague, I knew right away. Here I can use what I enjoy most about science, but at the same time look at it from a completely different perspective. So when I came across the position at i&i Prague, I knew right away. Here I can use what I enjoy most about science, but at the same time look at it from a completely different perspective. KAMILA BURDOVÁ Incubation Manager What do you enjoy most about science? The necessity of constantly learning. And then that feeling you get when you discover something new, something no one else has ever seen before. At i&i Prague, you work as an incubation manager. What exactly does this role involve? For projects going through our incubation program, we help with all the key aspects of launching a biotech startup. We assess the quality of the technology and the team’s readiness, the technology’s potential, intellectual property issues, and propose financing strategies. After joining, I started to be involved in multiple projects in different stages of the incubation process. Sometimes the work is more scientific, other times more business-oriented. In your view, how can the gap between science and business be bridged? I think this gap is mainly caused by a lack of information. Many scientists have no idea that commercialization is even an option. And those who have heard of it often hold misconceptions and are full of mistrust. We need to systematically raise awareness of this topic – include it in university curricula and show the benefits it can bring. It’s a long-distance run, but that’s the only way we’ll bridge this gap. What excites me more is being part of a team that manages to turn a unique scientific idea into a real product that helps people. That’s the goal for me. KAMILA BURDOVÁ Incubation Manager What types of projects do you enjoy the most? All our projects are interesting. However, projects related to my scientific background, such as cell therapies and drug development, are still closest to my heart. What do you think is the biggest weakness of Czech biotech? A major problem is definitely the low number of companies engaged in research. For a young scientist, it’s not easy to find a path outside academia if they want to continue doing science. Larger companies with in-house research are extremely scarce here. Do you have a dream project? I don’t have a specific area or technology I dream of. What excites me more is being part of a team that manages to turn a unique scientific idea into a real product that helps people. That’s the goal for me. I know that travelling and discovering new flavours are big hobbies of yours. Do you see any parallel with science? Absolutely! The kitchen is essentially a kind of home laboratory. And just like science, it’s about experimenting, discovering, and learning new things. Both have fascinated me all my life. So if you had to choose just one room, would it be the laboratory or the kitchen? Honestly? I’ve had my fill of laboratories. So at the moment, the kitchen – and discovering all those fascinating flavours the world has to offer. Thank you for the interview. Author: Martin Kovalčík

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.

< Back Alexandr Krajhanzl Board of Directors Alexandr Krajhanzl has been a part of i&i Prague since September 2021. He is also a member of the Board for the Commercialization of Science and Research Results of Charles University Prague. Between 1993 and 2004 he worked in various General Management functions in Cilag, later Janssen-Cilag, Johnson & Johnson. In 2004 as the Regional Director he became responsible for Business Development in EMEA Emerging Markets (80 countries) at Janssen, J&J Pharmaceutical companies. His responsibility changed from 2010 until 2017 when he acted as the Regional Director of New Business Development in the territory covering Europe Mid-Sized Markets. Between 2004 and 2017 he was a member of the Global BD team responsible for L&A and M&A initiatives and projects in Infectious Diseases and Vaccines. During his tenure in this position, he led or participated in numerous global, regional and local L&A and M&A deals. For his contribution, he was rewarded with two Global Standards of Leadership Awards of Johnson & Johnson. Between 2013 and 2019 he also served as the President and Founding Member of Pharma Licensing Group Central and Eastern Europe and Vice-President of the European Pharma Licensing Board. Alexandr completed his Master’s degree in Chemistry at Charles University in Prague. He has received a Ph.D. (CSc.) degree in Biochemistry and worked as a Charles University teacher for almost 11 years at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science. Should you be interested in a collaboration in the field of drug development, Alexandr will be the right contact whom you can meet. He has been in the world of science and its commercialization for more than 20 years and has an extensive network of contacts among Pharma and Medical Device companies.