Daniel Sheres, Volition Veterinary Product and Accounts Manager, joined Volition Veterinary in 2022. Since then, the company has launched with collaborators worldwide, including Heska/Antech and IDEXX. We asked Daniel about his role at Volition Veterinary, what excites him about the diagnostics industry, what it’s been like to work with our partners, and more.
Tell us a little bit about your role.
I see my role as a bridge between our research and development efforts and the commercialization of our products. By gathering market feedback from clients and veterinarians, I relay this information back to our research team, which helps us develop new products and refine existing ones to meet market demands with our innovative technology.
Why is Nu.Q® Vet important, and how might it change cancer diagnosis?
Typically, cancer is diagnosed when there’s a problem, often when the disease has already metastasized and the survival time is very short. With the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test, our goal is to start conversations earlier, allowing us to detect cancer in its early stages when more treatment options are available and affordable.
Early cancer detection means pet owners and veterinarians can create a plan and prepare for what’s to come, which is crucial for providing the best care. Even if a pet owner decides not to pursue treatment due to financial constraints, they can still prepare for the future, ensuring that their pet’s final days are as comfortable as possible.
What excites you the most about the role of Volition Veterinary in advancing cancer diagnostics?
We are doing something truly new and innovative in this field. There are only a handful of companies out there doing similar work with liquid biopsies, and it’s thrilling to see the progress we’ve made over the past two years. We’ve been able to bring our technology to global markets, which is incredibly exciting.
What value do our collaborators see in screening their patients for cancer?
Our partners view the veterinary oncology space as a significant growth opportunity over the next five to ten years. They view our technology as an additional service they can offer in their wellness packages for cancer screening. Beyond initial screening, our partners see the potential to use our tests for ongoing monitoring in cancer patients, allowing them to provide comprehensive care.
Daniel and his dog, Sadie
We are still in the early stages of making our cancer screening test available to the mass market. In the near future, we expect to see significant growth, particularly with our partners in the U.S. and Europe. They have put a lot of effort into promoting our technology over the past year, and it will be exciting to see where this growth takes us.
As of July 2024, Nu.Q® Vet is available in 15 countries and growing. Our most recent launches were in Japan in collaboration with Fujifilm Vet Systems and in Poland in collaboration with VetLab, with more launches in other countries coming up. Our test is currently available in the United States, Europe, and Asia through reference laboratories which include IDEXX and Heska/Antech. It is also available as an in-house test exclusively via Heska/Antech.
Additionally, we published a paper last year on the use of our test for monitoring applications, and we are eager to expand that dataset to demonstrate its effectiveness further.
We are also working on a feline product to cater to cat owners, who are eagerly awaiting this advancement. Beyond cancer, we are exploring additional applications such as sepsis, using similar biomarkers and tools to address these critical areas.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career at Volition so far?
There have been many memorable moments, but my most recent highlight was our launch with Fujifilm Vet Systems in Japan. Spending a few days in Japan, immersing myself in the culture, and experiencing their approach to pet care was incredibly impactful. It was eye-opening to see the dedication and precision the Japanese market brings to our technology, and it reinforced the global importance of our work.
