Antonín Holý at 90: The Scientist Whose Discoveries Transformed HIV Treatment
Antonín Holý would have celebrated his 90th birthday on September 1, 2026. Drugs based on Holý’s discoveries continue to help millions of people around the world in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B. The success of tenofovir-based drugs has brought IOCB Prague over a billion euros in licensing revenue. The institute uses these funds to further advance cutting-edge science and foster an environment in which new discoveries with the potential to achieve similar success can emerge.
When Antonín Holý filed a patent application in 1984 for a compound later known as tenofovir, he did not anticipate its use against HIV – the virus had been discovered only a year earlier. However, further research revealed its extraordinary potential, and the collaboration between Holý, Belgian virologist Eric De Clercq and their colleagues with John. C. Martin, the director of the U.S. company Gilead Sciences led to the development of drugs that today enable people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives. Tenofovir also plays an important role in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which helps prevent HIV infection, and is instrumental in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
Over a Billion Euros Reinvested in Science
The global success of Holý’s compounds generated over a billion euros in licensing revenue for IOCB Prague between 2001 and 2025. The institute uses these funds to modernize research infrastructure, support research groups and new research projects, and create an attractive environment for leading scientists from the Czech Republic and abroad.
“Antonín Holý left an extraordinary mark on IOCB Prague, Czech science, and this country. Thanks to his work, we have remarkable opportunities today,” says IOCB Prague Director Jan Konvalinka. “That comes with a responsibility to be the best we can be, because we have no excuses. We invest in talented and motivated people, new research directions, and state-of-the-art facilities so that we can achieve similar successes in the future,” he adds.
Another cornerstone of the institute is a robust technology transfer system, which helps translate the results of basic research into practical applications and reinvest the resulting success in the further development of science.
Zdeněk Havlas, Holý’s scientific colleague and director of the institute from 2002 to 2012, closely witnessed the transformation of IOCB Prague as the impact of Holý’s discoveries became increasingly apparent. But there is also one thing he feels was left unfinished: “I feel we owe him something because, despite numerous nominations, we were unable to secure for Antonín Holý some of the highest scientific honors, including the Nobel Prize. It didn’t help that, at a time when his discoveries were helping millions of patients around the world, he was already so ill that he could not present his findings in person at major international conferences.”
Research and the Gilead Sciences Partnership Continue
Today, several research groups at IOCB Prague are continuing along the path pioneered by Antonín Holý, including those led by his former students and colleagues. They are searching for new biologically active compounds, therapeutic targets, and new approaches to treating viral diseases.
An important partnership with the U.S. company Gilead Sciences also continues. Building on this long-standing collaboration, the Gilead Sciences Research Center was established at IOCB Prague in 2006; through this center, Gilead Sciences provides financial support for research and collaborates directly on selected projects focusing on viral, inflammatory, and oncological diseases.
