Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

IOCB's research in oriented on basic research in organic chemistry, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, theoretical, physical, and analytical chemistry, materials science, bioconjugate chemistry, chemical biology, nanotechnology.{{Cite journal |date=2018-10-09 |editor-last=Hostomský |editor-first=Zdeněk |title=IOCB Prague - Excellent Basic Research and Successful Applications: IOCB Prague - Excellent Basic Research and Successful Applications |journal=European Journal of Organic Chemistry|volume=2018 |issue=37 |pages=5076–5079 |doi=10.1002/ejoc.201801344|s2cid=240081214 |doi-access=free}}

The research is conducted by approximately 50 independent groups divided into several categories according to their main research focus, type, and status:

• Cluster: CHEM, BIO, PHYS
• Type: research, research-service, targeted research, service
• Status: junior, senior, honorary, distinguished emeritus, distinguished{{Cite web |title=Research groups of IOCB Prague |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/groups |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}{{Cite book |title=Research at IOCB Prague 2022 |year=2022 |isbn=978-80-86241-68-5 |location=Prague}}

In addition to basic research, IOCB has been active in applied research and practical applications, particularly in medicinal chemistry.

Its most significant results are acyclic nucleotide phosphonate antivirals (ANPs) discovered by Antonín Holý at IOCB in collaboration with Erik De Clercq from the Rega Institute, which revolutionized{{Cite web |date=18 July 2012 |title=Renowned HIV scientist Holy dies at 75 |url=https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/34848-renowned-hiv-scientist-holy-dies-at-75}} the development of antiviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis B. These compounds, later developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc. into approved drugs, include cidofovir, the first marketed compound from the ANPs family and approved for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients, adefovir, approved as a drug for treatment of hepatitis B and marketed as Hepsera, and tenofovir. Its prodrug forms tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate developed by Gilead Sciences were used in multiple drugs used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and chronic hepatitis B, e.g. Viread (approved in 2001), Truvada (2004), Atripla (2006), Complera/Eviplera (2011), Stribild (2012), Genvoya (2015), Odefsey (2016), Descovy (2016), Vemlidy (2016), Biktarvy (2018), Symtuza (2018).{{Cite book |last=Loeckx |first=Renilde |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1009361134 |title=Cold War Triangle : How Scientists in East and West Tamed HIV |date=2017 |publisher=Project Muse |isbn=978-94-6166-245-3 |location=Baltimore, Maryland |oclc=1009361134}}{{Cite web |title=Tenofovir |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/tenofovir |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}

The success of ANPs and widespread use in HIV drugs brought IOCB significant financial resources making it the richest{{Cite web |date=2019-07-11 |title=Vědci jako byznysmeni. Elitní ústav loni vydělal 780 milionů |url=https://forbes.cz/vedci-jako-byznysmeni-elitni-ustav-loni-vydelal-780-milionu/ |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Forbes}} research institution in the Czech Republic, allowing to extend and refurbish its campus and grow significantly.{{Cite web |last=Pašek |first=Roman |date=2017-04-25 |title=The Greatest Science Story in the Czech Republic |url=http://www.czech-research.com/greatest-science-story-czech-republic/ |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Research & Development in the Czech Republic}} Its general income from licenses in 2021 was around USD 130 mil.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-08 |title=Biochemie je v Česku na špičce. Bývalé působiště Antonína Holého mělo loni čtyřmiliardové příjmy |url=https://cc.cz/biochemie-je-v-cesku-na-spicce-byvale-pusobiste-antonina-holeho-melo-loni-ctyrmiliardove-prijmy/ |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=CzechCrunch |language=cs}}

At IOCB originated also other nucleoside compounds which became approved drugs: Decitabine used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and Azacytidine for myelodysplastic syndrome, both discovered by Alois Pískala, and an acyclic nucleoside analogue duvira, 9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)adenine (DHPA), discovered by Antonín Holý, clinically used in treatment of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus.{{Cite web |title=Azacitidine, Decitabine |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/azacitidine-decitabine |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}{{Cite web |title=Dihydroxypropyladenine |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/dihydroxypropyladenine |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}

Among its other achievements are human peptide hormones and their analogues, eg. the development of first method for industrial production of human neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin by Josef Rudinger, development of its analogues, such as Carbetocin, or the development of Lysin-vasopressin, Terlipressin, and Desmopressin, as well as an ointment Dermazulen based on a natural compound Guaiazulene.{{Cite web |title=Lysin-vasopressin, Terlipressin, Desmopressin |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/lysin-vasopressin-terlipressin-desmopressin |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}{{Cite web |title=Oxytocin, Carbetocin |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/oxitocin-carbetocin |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}{{Cite web |title=Guaiazulene |url=https://www.uochb.cz/en/guaiazulene |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=IOCB Prague}}

The original institute that has later turned into IOCB was established at the end of the Second World War before the establishment of CAS. The original institute was established under the Faculty of Chemistry of Czech Technical University in Prague and has been renamed multiple times.Dějiny Ústavu organické chemie a biochemie AV ČR, M. Franc a kolektiv, MÚA AV ČR 2013, kap. I{{Cite web |title=60 let Ústavu organické chemie a biochemie |url=http://abicko.avcr.cz/2013/11/15/index.html |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Akademický bulletin}} The official date that is considered as the establishment of IOCB is the year 1953, when the institute was renamed Institute of Organic Chemistry and incorporated into newly established Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. In 1955, the institute was renamed to Chemical Institute of CAS. The institute was finally renamed to IOCB in 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and establishment of the Czech Republic. In 2007, the institute was transformed into a public research institute.

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Category:Czech Academy of Sciences

Category:Science and technology in the Czech Republic

Category:Research institutes established in 1953

Category:Research institutes in the Czech Republic

Category:Chemical research institutes

Category:Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS

Category:1953 establishments in Czechoslovakia

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