Fighting brain cancer with an implant and electrical stimulation 

By Elcke Vels

Many types of cancer have become increasingly treatable over the years. But sadly, the survival rate of the most aggressive type of brain cancer, glioblastoma, remains low. Two years after diagnosis, only 20 percent of the patients are still alive. But there is hope. Manchester-based start-up QV Bioelectronics develops an innovative electric field therapy (EFT) device for better treatment. In this episode of Start-up of the Day, CEO and co-founder Chris Bullock talks about how that works and how the company is doing.

QV Bioelectronics uses Electric Field Therapy. How does that work?

“Electric Field Therapy uses specific frequencies of electrical stimulation to disrupt the processes that cancer cells use to divide. What we are doing is slowing down the rate of tumor growth by means of an implant in the brain. For people with the most severe forms of brain tumors, this therapy aims to extend their life expectancy. Especially if you use it alongside existing therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

If you look at the 5-year survival rate of patients with this type of brain tumor that are still alive after undergoing current treatments such as radiotherapy, surgery or chemotherapy, the percentage is only 3.4 percent. If you add electric field therapy, the survival rate increases to 13 percent. That’s very significant.”

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Doesn’t it hurt to get electric shocks to the brain?

“In the brain tissue, there is no sensation. So we believe we can deliver a painless therapy.”  

How new is this kind of therapy in the medical world?

“We are the first company that is making use of an implanted device. Existing solutions that are already on the market are external devices that develop electric fields from outside the skull. From our perspective, however, this has an impact on the quality of life of patients. They have to shave their head, amongst others. So we think we can really have a positive impact on the quality of life of those patients.”

What stage is the start-up currently in?

“We are still in the preclinical phase. We hope to start with clinical trials in three years. It is a long process to develop this kind of technology. The old silicon valley approach of acting fast and breaking things certainly does not apply to us. However, we are now on a very good track to deliver clinical trials. We have been able to demonstrate the performance of our device in treating cancer in modeled systems in the lab already.”

What has been the biggest milestone so far?

“We have demonstrated the safety of our implant, that’s a big one. Especially so because our device is a first of its kind. Our device is the first of its kind so this is a big step forward. I am proud that we have demonstrated we can deliver stimulation without causing any seizure activity, for example.”

What challenge are you currently facing?

“One of the company’s challenges is financing. We have some great investors who have supported us in recent years. But we are also the first of its kind, so we get mixed reactions. Some people immediately love and understand our concept. Others think we are crazy or find it scary. But over time, more and more we are able to prove the effectiveness of our therapy to the world.”

Where do you hope to be five years from now?

“We hope to have completed our first clinical trials by then. Moreover, we want to expand and focus on other types of brain tumors as well.”

What is your ultimate goal?

“In the end, our goal is to turn brain cancer into a manageable, long-term condition that isn’t killing as many people anymore as it does nowadays.”