Our History
“At Qu, we don’t do things just because that’s the way they are always done. We stop to ask ‘why?’ Opportunity lies in the ‘why?'”
Dr. Hal Gunn, CEO of Qu Biologics
Qu Biologics was founded in 2007 by physician Dr. Hal Gunn and businessman and cancer survivor Rob Freeman. The company’s vision began with a desire to develop treatments that re-establish health by restoring the body’s normal immune function and innate capacity to heal. This vision continues to guide us today. Qu Biologics’ Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs) are designed to stimulate activated innate immune cell recruitment to the targeted organ or tissue to restore immune function and treat a range of chronic diseases, including cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Hal Gunn has had a lifelong interest in how the body’s own immune system supports health and healing. In 1997, he co-founded InspireHeath (www.inspirehealth.ca), Canada’s leading supportive oncology centres, where nutritionists, exercise therapists, counselors and physicians support the health and immune system function of people with cancer during and after cancer treatment. It was at InspireHealth where Dr. Gunn met Rob Freeman.
Mr. Freeman is an entrepreneur who started a telecommunications company, London Telecom, out of his basement and built it to more than 300 employees and 150,000 customers. In 1999, he sold London Telecom for $76 million. Shortly after selling London Telecom, Mr. Freeman was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a treatable but not curable form of cancer, and was informed that the chance of 5-year survival was 30%. Mr. Freeman met with Dr. Gunn at InspireHealth in 1999 and chose to integrate the first generation of SSI treatment into his standard cancer treatment. Over fifteen years after diagnosis, Mr. Freeman remains in remission and continues to feel healthier than ever. Rob is committed to furthering the development and research of this innovative approach to cancer treatment.
Since the birth of Qu Biologics in 2007, the company has developed four targeted SSIs, treated more than 270 patients with advanced cancer and other immune-related diseases in compassionate use programs, raised over CAD$40 million in funding from private investors and government funding, and conducted multiple Phase 2 clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cancer. Qu is currently focused on advancing QBECO for the treatment of IBD and cancer.