QVQ Holding BV
QVQ offers tailor-made VHH-development on inquiry. This includes:
- – Design and implementation of an immunization protocols in llama.
- – Determination of immune responses in the sera.
- – Cloning of VHH-repertoires in phage-display librarie
- – Delivery of different VHHs (sequence and >0.5 mg protein).
QVQ can also deliver larger quantities of VHH for their prospective use in for example (co-)crystallization or in vivo experiments. In addition, QVQ offers directional labeling of VHHs and the oppertunity to produce VHHs in yeast according to GMP conditions, which allows for clinical application.
Founding history
QVQ was founded in 2010 by Theo Verrips, Pim Epping, Mohamed El Khattabi, Edward Dolk, and Eefjan Breukink with the aim to develop existing VHH from the Utrecht University and newly obtained proprietary VHH into high quality imaging agents for the early detection of diseases. QVQ has broadened its own portfolio of imaging agents and further developed methodologies for directional functionalization of the VHH for imaging. In collaboration with partners in Dutch medical centres, industrial partners and institutes QVQ is the only company that can develop VHH from the immunization of llamas, library construction, selection, screening and production up to GMP scale for translation to the clinic.
Theo Verrips
Co-founder, former CEO and strategic manager
Theo co-founded QVQ after an impressive academic and industrial career. Theo served Unilever for 33 years in various functions, of which his final position was Head Exploratory Research a.i. After he retired from Unilever in 2002, Theo transferred part of the llama antibody technology he developed at Unilever to his research group at Utrecht University. In 2006 he was invited by the GATES Foundation to participate in projects to combat infectious diseases like AIDS using llama antibodies. He contributed to over 150 peer reviewed publication and over 75 patents. He has contributed to the start-up of companies, like BAC (now a Thermo Fisher Scientific company), Ablynx (now a Sanofi company), Argenx and Lactrys. He is presently active in many areas, including membership of the European FSHD Society, and member of the Supervisory Board of FEI Eindhoven. After Theo’s ambition for a solid basis for a prosperous future for QVQ seemed to be established, Theo retired from QVQ as of October 2019.