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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

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.

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

With our investment, we try to help innovative ideas in their transition from research projects to functional companies. Investment We help inventions grow! We have moved the investment part of our business to our associated venture capital firm, i&i Biotech Fund I. We target early-stage Life Science startups that often build on decades of research and have the potential for breakthrough discoveries. We are trying to help them in their transition from purely scientific projects to functional companies. We focus mainly on projects from European Union member states, our core expertise lies in Central and Eastern Europe. Our focus DRUG DISCOVERY MEDTECH DIAGNOSTICS OTHER LIFE SCIENCES Stage of investment i&i Biotech Fund is supported by highly reputable institutions, a strong track record, a team of professionals and proprietary access to deal flow. In cooperation with it, we are targeting the following investment phases: SEED Ready to create? We can start at € 150 K to support business creation. A SERIES A Prepared to grow? Our sweet spot lies between 0.5 and 2 million euros. B Being exceptional? In exceptional cases, we are able to provide extra financing. SERIES B Investment steps GO-NO GO decision can occur during the whole investment process STEP 01-05 is in primary competency of i&i Prague STEP 06-10 is in primary competency of i&i Bio i&i Biotech Fund I For more information about the i&i Biotech Fund please visit the website. Read more

Our team We help invention grow! Our team benefits from decades of know-how and experiences gathered in academic institutions, technology transfer and industrial companies. Using this knowledge, we are developing a pool of highly potent biotech projects originating in academia and finding commercial partners for them. JIŘÍ MOOS CEO, Board of Directors In addition to managing i&i Prague, Jiří is responsible for project analysis. He is a member of the GAMA Commercialization Council of the Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG) and an external member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute of Biotechnology. Previously, he was a senior sales manager at Sigma-Aldrich and coordinator of regional activities of the Sigma-Aldrich Applied Business Unit. He also worked at Immunotech a.s. and has extensive experience as a researcher at the Centre for Assisted Reproduction at the General University Hospital in Prague and IMG. LinkedIn Mail DAVID STÍBAL Vice Director, Board of Directors David evaluates the business potential of scientific projects, establishes and initially manages startups, and works on the long-term development of projects all the way to their successful commercialization. David completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, and conducted postdoctoral research at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to joining us, he worked in Lach-Ner s.r.o. as a research scientist. LinkedIn Mail IVA MACHOVÁ Project Manager Iva is responsible for the analysis of project technology. Before joining our company, Iva worked as a postdoc researcher at the Biomedical Center of the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen. She holds BSc and MSc degrees from UCT Prague, Czech Republic, and she did her Ph.D. at the Institute of organic chemistry and biochemistry. Iva spent several months on a postdoctoral fellowship at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Due to her scientific experience in biochemistry, she is focused on projects in the field of drug discovery and cell therapy. LinkedIn Mail JIŘÍ RŮŽIČKA Project Manager Jiri is responsible for analyzing projects at i&i Prague. He also worked at the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the CAS (IEM), the University of Cambridge, and the University of Leeds. He has done his PhD at IEM and the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. He has 14+ years of experience in neuroscience and regenerative medicine with a broad focus on brain/spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and ageing. He has been dealing with enzymatic, gene, or cell therapies, biomaterial applications, and genetic models of neurodegenerative disorders. Mail Mail ROBERTO FERNANDEZ Project Manager Roberto is responsible for the analysis of projects. Prior to joining us, Roberto completed his Ph.D. in Macromolecular Chemistry at Charles University in Prague. He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Costa Rica and an MSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from Autonomous University of Barcelona. Parallel to his work in i&i Prague, Roberto works as a project manager in the MedTech start-up LAM-X a.s. Due to his experience, Roberto prefers to focus on projects in the field of medical devices and drug delivery. LinkedIn Mail SIMONA ŠANDOVÁ Office Manager Simona is responsible for making sure that everything works as it should in i&i Prague. During her career, Simona has worked as an Office Manager and a Junior Property Manager. She was responsible for training and conference organization, communication with clients and suppliers as well as administrative assistance for the project and property department. Simona has considerable experience in administration and office management. LinkedIn Mail MARTIN KOVALČÍK PR Manager Martin is responsible for PR activities and communication of our incubator. Prior to joining i&i Prague, Martin worked for nearly 13 years as a media coordinator at the respected Czech non-profit organisation, People in Need, where he was responsible for regular media relations and media service for a team of 300 people. He also has experience working in several editorial offices. He left his most significant mark at the Metro newspaper, where he worked for over 5 years, the last two as the deputy editor-in-chief. Mail Mail

We are your new team member, leading your journey from groundbreaking invention to market-storming product. Incubation We help invention grow! For scientists aiming to commercialize their innovations, i&i Prague offers step-by-step support, including market analysis, initial funding, and early industry feedback. We connect you with experts from science, law, and industry to ensure your project’s success. We are your new team member, leading your journey from groundbreaking invention to market-storming product. Incubation process Unlock the full potential of your scientific discovery. Our team of experts will provide you with the support you need to successfully commercialize your innovation. Our incubation program includes four basic phases: Idea Evaluation, Pre-Incubation, Incubation and Post-Incubation phase. IDEA EVALUATION Content: Project introduction Duration: individual Result: Yes/No futher discussion Read more PRE-INCUBATION Content: Mentoring Duration: individual Result: Incubation decision Read more INCUBATION Content: Full-speed project development Duration: Up to 36 months Result: Startup establishment Read more POST-INCUBATION Content: Startup further support Duration: individual Result: Support until successful exit Read more Contact us If you are interested in joining our incubation program, let us know. Our incubation program is open for projects from the Czech Republic and Poland. First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for submitting! Send

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 !

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.

Smart bandages not only capture pathogens, but also destroy them in no time. All they need is ordinary light. LAM-X team Hospital-acquired infections are a problem that current technologies are not able to deal with effectively. In the European Union alone they cause around 100,000 deaths each year, with estimates of the costs associated with treatment in the EU around €7 billion per year. However, this could change in the future; the Czech spin-off LAM-X a.s. is working intensively on the development of a nanomaterial that not only passively prevents viruses or bacteria from entering open wounds, but can also actively destroy them. It is made up of nanofibres doped with a photoactive substance which, when activated by ordinary light, eliminates any microbes that are in close proximity to it. Current dressing materials provide a kind of mechanical barrier aimed at suppressing the transmission of infection into the patient's body. However, if the objective is also to destroy the pathogens that cause infections, cover materials containing active silver are available. However, this is potentially toxic to the patient if used for a long time, and over time bacterial strains that may be resistant to this metal emerge. The material from LAM-X a. s. works on a completely different principle. “Our technology works with nanofibres that are hundreds of nanometres in diameter. We use them to create a very dense network that effectively prevents the penetration of pathogens. However, this in itself is not groundbreaking; nanofibre coverings have been produced for some time, although their use is not yet widespread. The added value of our material lies primarily in the fact that we can add a photoactive substance (so-called photosensitizer) to our nanofibres, which, when illuminated with ordinary light, activates a sterilization process that eliminates any bacteria or viruses on the surface of the bandage,” says Roman Chaloupka, CEO of LAM-X a. s. The light-activated photosensitizer can convert virtually ubiquitous molecular oxygen into so-called singlet oxygen, a highly reactive molecule that oxidizes virtually anything that comes in its way. “By using the photooxidation process, we are able to destroy even those pathogens that have already built up resistance to antibiotics or silver. Another huge advantage of our technology is that it eliminates the problem of toxicity of active dressings, which allows their long-term use. The singlet oxygen is generated only on the surface of the nanofibers and, due to its high reactivity, it acts only in close proximity to the nanofibers, so it does not come into contact with the patient's own wound or skin at all. And last but not least, our material is cheaper, as there is no need to use precious metals such as silver in its production,” adds Chaloupka. Bandages, incision films, catheter fixation The development of a second-generation smart bandage with antimicrobial effect is currently moving towards a clinical trial. If its current potential is confirmed, it could help, for example, people with chronic wounds in a few years' time. “More than 50 percent of patients with chronic wounds have been on treatment for more than a year. One reason is that these wounds are repeatedly infected with other bacteria. Our material should prevent this,” says Roman Chaloupka. However, it could be used to treat virtually any wound. A prototype of this type of bandage already exists and is currently being tested preclinically. These are a set of tests that need to be carried out before the product receives the necessary approvals to conduct clinical trials on real patients. Recruitment and follow-up should then take about a year. “By the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 at the latest, we should have the data to certify this dressing material as a medical device and subsequently award the CE mark, which is necessary for placing it on the EU market. At that point, production can begin,” adds Roman Chaloupka. However, dressing materials are only one of the paths LAM-X a.s. wants to take in the use of its technology. “At the moment we are already working on the development of other products, because we are convinced that our technology has a much more versatile application. Our material could be used, for example, to drape an operating field, which would greatly reduce the incidence of bacteria that could get close to an open wound. Even better, they could replace incision films, which are glued directly to the patient's skin to enhance health protection, especially in more time-consuming operations. The increase in cleanliness during surgery using our material should clearly reduce the incidence of post-operative infectious complications,” says Roman Chaloupka, outlining further possibilities. The technology of LAM-X a. s. would also find application in intravenous catheterisation, especially in long-term patients. “Even in this case, doctors struggle with the transfer of bacteria into the bloodstream, which causes serious health complications in the form of infections. If we made the adhesive dressings that fix the catheters to the wound from our material, we could largely prevent infections,” explains Roman Chaloupka. Clinical trials, search for an industrial partner LAM-X a.s. was founded in 2020 thanks to the joint efforts of Charles University and the Academy of Sciences. Specifically, its creation is backed by Charles University Innovations Prague, a subsidiary of Charles University, and the i&i Prague bio-innovation centre. It is currently preparing an investment round to raise funds for the aforementioned clinical trials. “All our products fall into the category of medical devices, the production of which is, of course, highly regulated. In order to obtain the necessary permits, whether in the Czech Republic, the European Union or in non-European countries, we need to collect a large amount of data to confirm the safety and efficacy of the material,” explains Roman Chaloupka of the need for clinical trials. The company would like to use part of the funds raised to equip its own laboratory (including a semi-operational nanofibre production facility) and to develop further products using this technology. However, the plans of LAM-X a. s. do not end there. “After completing all the necessary testing of our wound covers, we would like to launch them on the market through an industrial partner in the form of a large multinational company. We are looking for someone who has been involved in the treatment and healing of wounds for a long time, which means they already have a distribution network and effective marketing. We could then continue to focus on what we do best, i.e. on the development of new products,” concludes Roman Chaloupka, CEO of LAM-X a. s. Conclusion The products that LAM-X a.s. develops are based on unique technology that can help improve the quality of life for millions of people. Thanks to their versatility, they can be used in many areas of healthcare. They are also cheaper to produce in many cases than the materials currently used. It is these attributes that give LAM-X the chance to develop its potential not only in the local market, but also to succeed globally.

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.

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

PANC-CKI Consortium led by CasInvent Pharma Secures €4M Eurostars Grant for Pancreatic Cancer Research October 1, 2024. The PANC-CKI consortium, led by the Czech biotech, CasInvent Pharma, has been awarded a €4M Eurostars grant for a project entitled 'Developing a Novel Casein Kinase 1 Inhibitor for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: An AI-Integrated Approach.' The project aims to validate CI-CK1i, a new inhibitor targeting casein kinase 1 (CK1), for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients who urgently need new treatment options. The Casein Kinase 1 inhibitor developed by CasInvent Pharma effectively and selectively blocks all three isoforms of CK1, enhancing responses to ongoing treatments like chemotherapy and reducing tumor growth as a single agent. CasInvent Pharma, in collaboration with its international partners, achieved outstanding success in the 6th call of this program with the PANC-CKI consortium. The consortium will conduct Proof-of-Concept studies to generate a data package for initiating IND/CTA studies. PANC-CKI consortium employs a completely novel drug development, process synergistically combining cutting-edge technologies including creation of digital twin using AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning) technologies with rapid screening of drug combination using state-of-the-art cancer patient-derived organoids at the University of Bern (Prof. Marianna Kruithof-de Julio). Safety testing will be performed by a new organs-on-chip technology developed by Alveolix (Switzerland). "We see the success of CasInvent Pharma in the Eurostars programme as further proof of the excellent potential of our platform and its ability to be successful internationally. In addition, the association with our partners opens a new chapter in our research, which will focus on treatment options for pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat diseases," says Alexander Scheer (CEO) from CasInvent Pharma. “Deeplife is optimistic about advancing this CK1 inhibitor to tackle pancreatic cancer, a currently hopeless disease,” says Jonathan Baptista (CEO) from DeepLife, (France) Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation. CasInvent Pharma, in collaboration with its international partners, achieved outstanding success in the 6th call of this program. Competing among participants from 37 countries, CasInvent Pharma received an exceptional score of 51 out of 54 from the international evaluation panel. The project ranked 1st in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France. Such a great outcome among European competition underlines the potential of the CK1 inhibitors and creates a momentum for our ongoing fundraising activities of CasInvent to bring our drug to the patients as soon as possible. Contact for media: Alexander Scheer, scheer@casinvent.com , +33 78 40 43 43 ABOUT THE COMPANIES CasInvent Pharma is a drug discovery spin-off company established in 2020 by Masaryk University and biotech incubator i&i Prague. The mission of the company is to develop new therapeutic options for the treatment of resistant tumours. The CasInvent platform is based on the use of proprietary, best-in-class highly selective inhibitors of enzymes belonging to the casein kinase 1 (CK1) family that are responsible for the regulation of different cellular mechanisms leading to resistance to targeted therapies. More information: www.casinvent.com OTHER PARTNERS University of Bern (UBERN): The Urology Research Laboratory at the Department for BioMedical Research of UBERN conducts advanced research in patient-derived organoids and possesses a collection from various cancer types such as prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma to understand cancer biology. UBERN has demonstrated the translational potential of patient-derived organoids and is currently engaged in clinical studies. AlveoliX AG: AlveoliX, a leader in organs-on-chip technology, is expanding its impact with the patented AXBarrier-on-Chip System, a platform enabling advanced safety and efficacy models for pre-clinical testing. Its current AXBiomodel portfolio includes validated lung and intestine models, with kidney and bladder models in development. AlveoliX’s participation in a new grant will enable the company to enter the fast-growing oncology market, supporting cancer drug development with more precise, predictive pre-clinical models. For more information, visit alveolix.com or contact nina.hobi@alveolix.com . DeepLife: DeepLife, a Paris-based biotech company founded in 2019, uses multi-omics data, machine learning, and systems engineering to accelerate drug discoveries. Its AI technology creates digital twins of human cells, enabling rapid evaluation of drug responses, deciphering mechanisms, and identifying biomarkers and targets. DeepLife collaborates on identifying new targets and drug repositioning projects with this technology. For more information, visit DeepLife.com or contact kevin.carvalho@deeplife. co .