New research funding of £1.26M granted to QV Bioelectronics for the development of novel brain cancer therapy
A Promising Innovation in Brain Cancer Treatment: QV Bioelectronics' GRACE Implant
In the realm of brain cancer treatment, a new hope is emerging. QV Bioelectronics, a leading biotechnology company, is developing GRACE – an innovative implant that uses electric fields to target tumour cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Current treatments for brain cancer have limited effectiveness and poor outcomes, making the urgent need for advancements in this field paramount. QV Bioelectronics is addressing this need with GRACE, a first-of-its-kind fully implanted Electric Field Therapy (EFT) system designed to deliver continuous, targeted therapy within the brain.
The Biomedical Catalyst funding will support device validation, further safety testing, engagement with regulatory bodies, and preparations for an initial human study. As of the current moment, GRACE is still in pre-clinical development and not yet approved for use in humans.
The University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian are contributing to the development of GRACE, with the professor involved in its development being a Professor of Clinical and Experimental Neurosurgery, Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon & Clinical Director of Neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian.
Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated strong efficacy with GRACE's technology. QV holds multiple granted patents and has secured over 6 million GBP in grant funding and equity investment. The company has been awarded a 1.26 million GBP grant under the Biomedical Catalyst programme.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTF), a form of EFT, are an established, FDA-approved noninvasive treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a common and aggressive brain tumor. However, current TTF efficacy is limited by physical factors such as attenuation by intervening tissues and shunting. GRACE, with its implantable design, aims to overcome these limitations.
The future prospects for electric field therapy devices like GRACE include refinement of electric field delivery, combining TTF with other modalities (e.g., focused ultrasound, immunotherapy), and leveraging advances in personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and biomaterials to tailor treatment to individual tumor characteristics.
Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and common primary brain tumour in adults, continues to have one of the poorest prognoses in oncology. The University of Edinburgh is excited about the prospect of the first in human study for GRACE, as it represents a promising new approach to treating this particularly aggressive cancer.
The potential of electric field therapy to significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life is highlighted. While Optune Gio remains the clinical standard with a strong evidence base and high-level guideline recommendation, newer systems such as GRACE aim to address current limitations and improve effectiveness.
In summary, electric field therapy for brain tumors is a clinically validated modality with room for improvement. QV Bioelectronics' GRACE system is positioned within this context to contribute to next-generation TTF enhancements and potentially better clinical outcomes as ongoing developments mature.
In the pursuit of improving treatment for brain cancer, particularly glioblastoma, a promising innovation known as the GRACE implant by QV Bioelectronics utilizes electric fields to target tumor cells and spares healthy tissue. This technology, while still in pre-clinical development, aims to overcome the limitations of current noninvasive treatments like Optune Gio, contributing to health and wellness by offering a potential for significant improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life.
Medical conditions like brain cancer have long-standing challenges with existing treatments, often leading to poor outcomes. The urgent need for advancements is being addressed by QV Bioelectronics' GRACE, an implantable Electric Field Therapy (EFT) system, designed to deliver continuous, targeted therapy within the brain for various health-and-wellness related issues.
