Development of technology and capabilities critical for clinical translation of first of its kind brain tumour therapy

胶质母细胞瘤是最常见和侵袭性的原发性成人脑癌。全球发病率为3-5/10万人，并且正在上升，约为3000人英国诊断/年。目前无法治愈，5年生存率约为3.4%。电场治疗（EFT）是肿瘤切除后应用的一种新的癌症治疗形式，它直接干扰细胞分裂，减缓肿瘤复发，延长生命。然而，由于患者生活质量差和成本效益低，NICE不推荐在NHS中使用唯一可用的胶质母细胞瘤电疗设备。QV生物电子公司（QVB）正在开发GRACE，这是同类植入式EFT设备中的第一个。GRACE以局部和持续的方式提供EFT，可能会使胶质母细胞瘤患者的预期寿命增加一倍，导致5年生存率提高10倍，同时克服与现有EFT治疗相关的生活质量问题。QVB在临床前开发期间已经证明了初步的安全性，临床前疗效测试与该项目同时进行。作为该项目的一部分，QVB的目标是进行额外的开发步骤，以确保GRACE将在2024年底前在英国患者中进行首次人体试验。QVB的设备仍处于临床前开发阶段，在几年内不会准备好给患者开处方。QVB的技术将在未来扩展到其他类型的脑肿瘤，我们的研究和创新中心将在英国创造大量的就业机会，每年创造价值超过39亿英镑的全球市场机会。这将巩固英国在不断发展的生物电子学领域的全球领导者地位。

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.