IONIQ Sciences envisions a new, modern approach to early detection for multiple cancers

The Silicon Review

Cancer is a scourge. One in two Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and one in five will die. Early detection can change this paradigm by identifying cancer in its earliest, most-treatable stages. The clinical literature demonstrates that early detection can save lives and money.

IONIQ Sciences’ vision is to dramatically improve the cancer landscape with a modern solution for early detection of multiple cancers, thereby expanding the therapeutic window, significantly improving survivability, and reducing healthcare costs. The company aims to modernize cancer testing and envisions a world where cancer is no longer feared – where it is readily treatable and no longer a financial burden. They intend to do this by making early cancer detection an integral part of annual wellness checks. Lives and money can be saved when cancer is detected at its earliest, most treatable stages. Early detection is critical, and IONIQ Sciences is leading the way at the forefront. IONIQ Sciences will not be satisfied until the scourge of cancer has been eliminated.

In conversation with Jared Bauer, CEO of IONIQ Sciences

Q. Why was the company set up? And how did you expand your company and its offerings over the years?

The Company was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, to address lung cancer, which is the most deadly cancer in the USA and worldwide. It kills more than the next three cancers combined. Earlier this year, based on our clinical evidence, the US FDA designated our ProLung Test (TM) for lung cancer a Breakthrough Device for its life-enchancing potential. This is a major milestone for IONIQ Sciences.

Through seven trials at 24 clinical sites, 1,200 unique subjects and more than 20 million data points, our data suggest that our Electrical Impedance Analytics (EIA) technology is measuring the body’s “early warning system” to the presence of cancer. We believe our technology has applicability outside lung cancer. Therefore, we undertook an IRB-approved feasibility breast cancer study in early 2020 and subsequently rebranded to IONIQ Sciences in May 2020 to reflect our expanded early cancer detection strategy.

Q. Building a culture of sustainability inside an organization is very important to maintain one’s reputation in the global market. How is it true for your company?

IONIQ Sciences has a growing, and deeply passionate team of problem solvers focused on detecting cancer early. We have all been affected by the cold realities of cancer, and at IONIQ, we have decided that it does not have to be that way any longer. We will continue our efforts to change the cancer landscape by conquering the challenges of early detection. We have harnessed our ambition to make a lasting contribution to the world. While we didn’t coin the phrase, we live it: We follow the science. We are a curious bunch. We investigate, test, and iterate so that our team discussions are based on data. Through trust and respect, our team is free to brainstorm and present alternatives. As a result, our culture is “one for all and all for one.” This open-minded culture also resulted in the conclusion that our technology appears to be measuring the body’s “early warning system” to the presence of cancer, and therefore we launched our IRB-approved breast cancer feasibility study in early 2020 after our encouraging bench work.

Q. How successful was your first project roll on? Share the experience.

The US FDA’s designation of Breakthrough Device for our ProLung Test in February 2020 was a wonderful achievement by our team. It put a tremendous amount of wind in our sails. We are very proud that our solution was recognized for its potential by the US FDA. We are eager to follow this with our de novo submission to the US FDA for marketing clearance on the ProLung Test in the near future. Other tests will follow and will pave the way for our Multi-Cancer Screen.

Q. Tell us about your services in brief.

IONIQ Sciences has decoded the science of the body’s earliest response to the presence of cancer. The body’s electrical properties change due to the presence of cancer. The IONIQ System collects up to 13,125 data points as it measures these changes to determine the presence of cancer. By operating at the confluence of Electrical Impedance Analytics (EIA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), we believe our cutting-edge IONIQ System can non-invasively scan for cancer. IONIQ Sciences is following a strategic course to develop and commercialize the first-ever FDA cleared Multi-Cancer Screen. The first step on our quest for early detection is commercializing our IONIQ ProLung Test, which has been designated a Breakthrough Device by the US FDA for its life-enhancing potential. We then plan to commercialize our IONIQ Breast Test, which has entered feasibility testing. By following the scientific process principles, IONIQ Sciences will amass vast amounts of valuable clinical data that we are using to develop and commercialize the first-ever FDA-cleared Multi-Cancer Screen.

Q. Where do you see IONIQ Sciences in the future?

IONIQ Sciences is at the forefront of early cancer detection today. Cancer is a scourge on society. One in two Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, and one in five will die. The five-year cancer survival rates approach 90% when diagnosed in the earliest stages of the disease versus less than 10% in the latest stages. We believe it doesn’t have to be this way. Early detection saves lives and money by detecting cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages. We are well-positioned to develop a multi-cancer screen by leveraging our lung test, breast test, proprietary technology, substantial EIA database, and our deep clinical experience. Our future is bright.

Meet the leader behind the success of IONIQ Sciences

Jared Bauer is the CEO of IONIQ Sciences. He joined the company in September 2018. Mr. Bauer has focused his professional endeavors on the MedTech industry and is also the CEO of Cibus Biotechnologies Inc. In 2012, Mr. Bauer previously founded Exuro Medical and acquired BurnFree Products. In just two years with a focus on sustainable revenue generation, he led the Exuro Medical team to expand BurnFree distribution to 58 countries, managing regulatory processes, re-working quality systems, and making BurnFree the second largest burn treatment product line in the world. Mr. Bauer currently serves as a trustee at The Oliver Fund, a non-profit he co-founded and as Chairman of the BioUtah SLC Biotech Initiative Advisory Committee.