EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
When The iQ Group Global sees an
innovation with great potential, it
sometimes elects to acquire it and
develop it in-house. That has been true
for its two latest assets: an oncology
compound and a glucose biosensor.
“Both of these assets are currently at
the clinical testing stage,” explains
George. “We are planning for the
biosensor to be on the market within
the next two years, and for our oncology
compound — which has generated
some very promising early data — to
progress to clinical trials. This
innovation creates a new therapeutic
class for tumor therapy,” George notes.
“And, irrespective of the approval, it is
introducing a new way of thinking
about cancer.”The Group’s other innovation, the
glucose biosensor, enables the
measurement of glucose in saliva. This
means that people with diabetes will
have the ability to monitor their blood
sugar levels without constantly having
to prick their fingers. “This will
significantly improve the lives of
diabetics” George explains.“By modifying the current biosensor
technology we will also develop other
tests, for example, cholesterol,hormones, tumour and immunological
markers. The concept with our glucose
biosensor is to bring it in contact with
saliva and then the reading comes up on
your smart device. The resulting
datasets are stored in the Cloud,
creating non-relational databases or ‘big
data’. This data can then be analysed to
provide significant insights into the
disease state and the patients’ quality of
life in real-time. It will be life-changing
for hundreds of millions of people.”For George, the ultimate vision for The
iQ Group Global is to be a one-stop-
shop strategic partner to the global
biotechnology industry. But for this to
be a success George shares that the
company must act courageously andhave a focus on sustainability. “Our
clients will come to us, and we will take
their innovation from the lab right
through to the regulatory phase of the
project. At The iQ Group Global we
push the limits every day, consistently
operating in terra incognita.”However, navigating the unknown is
how innovative and life-changing
technologies develop. “Innovation is
neither systematic nor is it predictable,”
says George. “One has to be able to see
things, from a future perspective — as
they should or could be — and go out
there and make those things happen. In
science fiction, everything is big and
bold until it is made into science fact.
There is no dream too big.”“This innovation creates a new
therapeutic class for tumour
therapy.” - Dr George Syrmalis