How has QVQ changed in the last decade?
QVQ started as a company that worked as a scientific group while providing services for others. Now, QVQ is working as a single domain antibody generation machine that runs on academic knowledge and experience. This sounds similar, but it does imply a significant change in setup. For instance, there is now a more balanced team with many PhD-level scientists, but these are now accompanied by many practically trained technicians and research associates. This combination is essential to keep the machine rolling. We now have a much more diverse team with varying educational, social, and cultural backgrounds, which I am very proud of.
When you look back, say five years, could you imagine that the company would grow to its current size?
Yes, the aim of QVQ has always been to gradually grow but at a low pace to keep the scientific and technical levels high. In that respect, we have indeed grown rather fast in the last few years, but I am more amazed by the increase in efficiency that QVQ has realized. The throughput has increased tremendously, now performing approximately 50 antibody discovery campaigns each year, with a success rate well over 90%. We see many returning customers, indicating that the satisfaction rate is also high.
And when you look five years into the future? What do you foresee for QVQ?
QVQ will be moving to the state-of-the-art Plus Ultra Utrecht building next year and thus remain a prominent member of the Utrecht Science Park. This movement will be a boost for the team and also the services we can offer. Currently, QVQ is already implementing many additional downstream services that followup the antibody discovery projects. By doing so, we can further assist our customers in characterizing their antibodies better in order to make an impact. What I find very interesting personally are the new developments in synthetic biology, structural biology and AI to generate antibodies without the use of animal experiments. We have invested in non-immune and synthetic libraries and in approaches for humanization, affinity maturation, and developability increase of the lead candidates. This will keep QVQ among the frontrunners as the single domain antibody company.
How do you see your own role in that growth?
I think that my role will be changing more and more into a mentor role, rather then a hands-on scientist. Nowadays, I am hardly in the lab anymore, although I make sure I see and touch a pipet almost every day. I hope that I can develop myself just as fast as the industry and the company do. Over the last 25 years, I have met and worked with so many inspiring people and I hope that I will be able to equally inspire the next generation.
Last but not least, what is the power of QVQ?
Education and training. QVQ has always worked very closely with Utrecht University, but also with universities of applied science (Hogeschool Utrecht and Saxion Hogeschool) and ROC midden Nederland, to help students with their minor projects and internships. Additionally, QVQ sometimes assists in teaching the new generation established, as well as the latest techniques to adapt to the rapidly changing biotechnology field. This is not only beneficial for the universities and their students, but it also keeps our employees on their toes and on top of the latest developments. I am proud that many of the QVQ employees have started as internship students. Over time, this developed into a young and dynamic team that is eager to learn, be it from courses, from each other, or from customers.
