Public Funding for QV Bioelectronics LTD.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary adult brain cancer. Global incidence is 3-5/100,000 persons and rising, with c.3000 UK diagnoses/year. There is no cure and the 5-year survival rate is ~3.4%. Electric Field therapy (EFT) is a new form of cancer treatment applied after tumour resection that directly interferes with cell division, slowing tumour recurrence and prolonging life. However, the only available electrotherapy device for glioblastoma is not recommended for use on the NHS by NICE due to poor patient quality-of-life and low cost-effectiveness. QV Bioelectronics (QVB) is developing GRACE, a first of its kind implanted EFT device. GRACE delivers EFT in a focal and continuous manner that will potentially double glioblastoma patient life expectancy, leading to up to 10-times higher 5-year survival rates whilst overcoming quality-of-life issues associated with the existing EFT treatment. QVB have demonstrated initial safety during preclinical development, with pre-clinical efficacy testing taking place in parallel to this project. As part of this project, QVB aims to carry out additional development steps to ensure GRACE will be ready for 1st in human trials in UK patients by the end of 2024\. QVB's device is still undergoing pre-clinical development and will not be ready to be prescribed to patients for several years. QVB's technology will be expanded to other types of brain tumours in future, with our research and innovation hub creating a significant number of jobs in the UK, creating a combined global market opportunity worth over £3.9Bn/year. This will cement the UK's position as global leaders in the growing field of bioelectronics.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary adult brain cancer. Global incidence is 3-5/100,000 persons and rising, with c.3000 UK diagnoses/year. There is no cure and the 5-year survival rate is ~3.4%. Electric Field therapy (EFT) is a new form of cancer treatment applied after tumour resection that directly interferes with cell division, slowing tumour recurrence and prolonging life. However, the only available electrotherapy device for glioblastoma is not recommended for use on the NHS by NICE due to poor patient quality-of-life and low cost-effectiveness. QV Bioelectronics (QVB) is developing GRACE, a first of its kind implanted EFT device. GRACE delivers EFT in a focal and continuous manner that will potentially double glioblastoma patient life expectancy, leading to up to 10-times higher 5-year survival rates whilst overcoming quality-of-life issues associated with the existing EFT treatment. QVB have demonstrated initial safety during preclinical development, with pre-clinical efficacy testing taking place in parallel to this project. As part of this project, QVB aims to carry out additional development steps to ensure GRACE will be ready for 1st in human trials in UK patients by the end of 2024\. QVB's device is still undergoing pre-clinical development and will not be ready to be prescribed to patients for several years. QVB's technology will be expanded to other types of brain tumours in future, with our research and innovation hub creating a significant number of jobs in the UK, creating a combined global market opportunity worth over £3.9Bn/year. This will cement the UK's position as global leaders in the growing field of bioelectronics.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary adult brain cancer. Global incidence is 3-5/100,000 persons and rising, with c.3000 UK diagnoses/year. There is no cure and the 5-year survival rate is ~3.4%. Electrotherapy is a new form of cancer treatment applied after tumour resection that directly interferes with cell division, slowing tumour recurrence and prolonging life. However, the only available electrotherapy device for glioblastoma is not recommended for use on the NHS by NICE due to poor patient quality-of-life and low cost-effectiveness. QV Bioelectronics (QVB) is developing a novel approach to deliver electrotherapy in a focal and continuous manner that will potentially double glioblastoma patient life expectancy, leading to up to 10-times higher 5-year survival rates whilst overcoming quality-of-life issues associated with the existing electrotherapy treatment. QVB has developed a working prototype and will perform pre-clinical safety testing as part of this Innovate UK funded project as well as working on other development aspects of their technology. QVB's device is still undergoing pre-clinical development and will not be ready to be prescribed to patients for several years. QVB's technology will be expanded to other types of brain tumours in future, with our research and innovation hub creating a significant number of jobs in the UK, creating a combined global market opportunity worth over £3Bn/year. This will cement the UK's position as global leaders in the growing field of bioelectronics.

I am the Principal Biomaterials scientist at QV Bioelectronics, and I am responsible for leading the development of the core technology. Following my undergraduate degree in Applied Pharmacology, I completed my PhD in bioengineering which focused on biomaterial fabrication and characterisation for osteoarthritis. Utilising my previous expertise, in my role as Principal Biomaterial Scientist, I am now at the forefront of development of the innovative electrode technology which aims to tackle a real global healthcare challenge. I have led the complex development of the core electrode technology, for which I am one of the inventors. This electrode technology is part of our cutting-edge electric field therapy device called GRACE. QV Bioelectronics is a Manchester based medical device start-up which is determined to deliver a treatment which provides a longer and better-quality life for brain tumour patients. Glioblastoma Multiforme is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults, and it has amongst the worst outcomes of any type of cancer. It is very difficult to treat; and despite intensive treatment including surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients live 14 months on average post-diagnosis. Moreover, it has a 5-year survival rate of <5%, which is in contrast is 89% for breast cancer. Glioblastoma patients are in desperate need for more effective treatments, and at QV Bioelectronics our goal is to develop our device to provide pain-free, side-effect free treatment, while also increasing life expectancy. GRACE will be implanted during tumour resection surgery, directly into the cavity. From here, it will deliver electric field therapy continuously to the cancer cells. Electric fields are known to interfere with cancer cell division, slowing tumour progression and ultimately increasing life expectancy. It is hoped that GRACE will provide a paradigm shift in the treatment of glioblastoma. Utilising advanced materials, the technology underpinning the GRACE device is designed to significantly extend patient life-expectancy without negatively affecting patient quality of life. GRACE is still at an early stage of development, and it will be several years before the technology is ready to enter clinical trials. The electrode technology is currently undergoing optimisation and characterisation, with a focus on technical de-risking. QV Bioelectronics have an excellent multidisciplinary team in place and our vision is for GRACE to become integrated into the standard treatment of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients both in the NHS and internationally- making a real impact on glioblastoma patients outcomes worldwide.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary adult brain cancer. Global incidence is 3-5/100,000 persons and rising, with c.3000 UK diagnoses/year. There is no cure and patient life expectancy is just 14-months post-diagnosis on average. Electric field therapy is a new form of cancer treatment applied after tumour resection that directly interferes with cell division, slowing tumour recurrence and prolonging life. However, the single marketed device for glioblastoma is not recommended for use on the NHS by NICE due to poor patient quality-of-life and low cost-effectiveness. QV Bioelectronics (QVB) are developing GRACE, a novel implant that delivers electric field therapy in a focal and continuous manner, potentially doubling glioblastoma patient life expectancy, leading to potential improved patient outcomes whilst overcoming quality-of-life issues associated with existing solutions. QVB is seeking to access partners in the US who have specialist knowledge, technologies and capital available to bring the GRACE device to market. QVB's device is still undergoing pre-clinical development and will not be ready to be prescribed to patients for several years. QVB's technology will be expanded to other types of brain tumours in future, creating a combined global market opportunity worth over £5Bn/year, whilst providing a new treatment for NHS patients. This will generate UK jobs and help to cement the UK's position as global leaders in the growing field of bioelectronics.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Even with the best available treatment, patients are only expected to live 14 months post-diagnosis. GBM is very difficult to treat, with the 5-year survival rate at 5%; by comparison, this figure is 89% for breast cancer. GBM patients are in desperate need for more effective treatments, and at QV Bioelectronics our goal is to develop an electrotherapy device to provide pain-free, side-effect free treatment to improve the clinical outcomes for GBM patients. This Innovate UK funded project aims to conduct industrial research to support the development our medical device. The outputs of this project will be used to lay the foundations of the eventual clinical translation of our technology, bringing benefits to brain tumour patients worldwide.