This fall Prague will be the stage for a showcase of cutting-edge biotechnologies featuring prominent figures such as Christian A. Stein, Petr Jansa, and other leading experts.

• The capital city of the Czech Republic is set to host the second Prague.bio Conference on September 24th 2024.

• The event unites top minds in biotechnology, representatives from major investment funds, technology transfer law specialists and other professionals from the biotech and medtech sectors.

• For ticket purchases, the project registration form and the latest news visit: www.conference.prague.bio.

Prague March 11, 2024. The conference aims to facilitate connections between seasoned investors, representatives from leading pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies and technology transfer offices with promising start-ups, scientists and students, offering valuable advice and insights for the commercialization of scientific ideas. Attendees, comprising representatives from both science and business, will engage in first-hand exchanges about the development and financing of new drugs, diagnostics, and medical technologies.

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Endorsed by Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation, Helena Langšádlová, Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Síkela, and under the patronage of Prague Mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, the international event caters to academics, investors and industry experts across Central Europe.

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The keynote speakers for this year’s edition are already known. The first is Christian A. Stein, the CEO of Ascenion GmbH, one of the largest technology transfer institutions in Germany. He was the head of the patent and licensing office in the German Human Genome Project, president of ASTP (the largest European association for technology transfer). He has also founded various successful biotechnology and other companies and now also serves as a board member of the Alliance for Transfer in Germany. In addition to a doctorate in molecular biology, he also holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Intellectual Property Management. At the conference he will acquaint participants with the differences in conditions and needs when founding spin-offs from the perspective of founders, investors and scientists.

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Another key speaker is Silicon Valley expert Petr Jansa, co-founder of Pallando Therapeutics and other successful start-ups. His expertise builds on collaboration with Prof. Antonín Holý and the development of new drugs at Gilead Sciences. Currently, he is intensely involved in the start-up scene, whether as Head of Development at Bridgene Biosciences, as an advisor to the California Life Science FAST program (a program for early-stage start-ups), or as a consultant to Biotech start-ups and investor in innovative projects. In his presentation he will summarize, among other things, the sources of innovation that are currently driving the world of biotech in Silicon Valley.

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"There was great interest in last year's inaugural Prague.bio Conference. We welcomed representatives of the Czech government, the mayor of Prague, and significant representatives of science and business from all neighboring countries. We are very pleased with the positive feedback. People across the spectrum, from universities, science and research environments, spin-offs and start-ups, small and medium-sized innovative companies, as well as large pharma and diagnostic companies, met with lucrative investors, patent representatives, and top lawyers. And not only during the formal parts of the event but also personally during the informal evening program. It was truly a unique networking opportunity," says Petra Kinzlová, CEO of the Prague.bio cluster, which organizes the event.

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Beyond lectures, the conference will include panel discussions with investors and law firm representatives specializing in technology transfer law - a segment that was highly acclaimed the previous year. Additionally, start-ups and R&D teams can submit their technologies online; the best teams will pitch them and receive investors’ feedback at the event.

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Scheduled for September 24th at Slovanský dům in Prague, the conference is open for registration on the official website www.conference.prague.bio for interested participants.

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Media Contact:

Martin Opatrny

opatrny@prclinic.eu

+420 602 252 405

About Christian A. Stein

Before becoming CEO of Ascenion, Christian Stein headed the project management department at the Fraunhofer Patent Centre for German Research. From 2020 to 2022 he was Chairman of the Board of TransferAllianz, the German Knowledge and Technology Transfer Association. Christian is also a chairman of the MGC Foundation and a member of the International Strategy Committee of AUTM. He was President of ASTP and Board Member of ATTP. Christian Stein has founded several companies in and outside the biotechnology field. He is an advisor to various EU programs and expert groups and is on the advisory board of a number of biotechnology companies. In 2022 he initiated the CARMA FUND and is now a member of its Investor Advisory Board. Christian holds a PhD in molecular biology from LMU Munich and obtained an MSc in Management of Intellectual Property Law from QMW in London.

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About Petr Jansa

Petr Jansa is a highly motivated drug hunter and medicinal chemist with over a decade of experience in drug discovery and development within the pharmaceutical industry. He possesses a deep interest in rational drug design, new modalities, compounds beyond the rule of 5, chemical virtual spaces, pharmacokinetics and computational chemistry. He has led medicinal chemistry efforts on multiple projects resulting in the development of 3 clinical stage assets and 7 additional development candidates. He is an accomplished scientist holding 23 patents/patent applications and is author of 54 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently serving as the co-founder of Pallando Therapeutics as well as Head of Chemistry at BridGene Biosciences and Advisor for the California Life Sciences FAST program (supporting early-stage life sciences startups), and also is acting as a private scientific consultant for early biotech startups and venture capitalists, providing comprehensive chemistry solutions.