Quantum computing shares, including D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and IONQ, staged a rip-roaring rally at the end of last week in the latest twist in the sector’s meteoric rise that started in November last year.

The rally’s driving force was an announcement by key player D-Wave Quantum, which claimed it had developed the ‘world’s first and only demonstration of quantum computational supremacy on a useful, real-world problem’.

D-Wave said its annealing quantum computer performed a simulation that would take a normal computer nearly one million years in just minutes.

“This is a remarkable day for quantum computing. Our demonstration of quantum computational supremacy on a useful problem is an industry first. All other claims of quantum systems outperforming classical computers have been disputed or involved random number generation of no practical value,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave.

The development sparked a wave of buying in D-Wave shares that turned positive on the year and helped lift other quantum stocks such as Rigetti Computing, Quantum Computing and IONQ.

D-Wave also announced earnings last week, revealing bookings had increased 128% in the last year and saying first-quarter revenue was set to exceed $10m, compared to $8.8m for the whole of last year.

Further compounding interest in the sector, analysts at investment bank Mizuho Securities suggested that chip giant Nvidia may outline a path to wider quantum computing adoption at a conference this week, raising hopes that the sector could be on the verge of greater commercial penetration.

Any such roadmap would be a real boost to the sector after the Nvidia boss stopped the quantum computing rally in its tracks in early 2025 by saying we are decades away from using quantum computing in real-world applications. 

The rally in quantum stocks last week was mostly speculative. But this week’s Nvidia conference could produce a nugget or two that validates the quantum computing investment thesis.

Adsure Services PLC has announced the appointment of Veran Patel as Director of Healthcare at its subsidiary TIAA Limited. Patel, who brings over 20 years of audit and consulting experience, will lead TIAA’s healthcare business unit.

In his new role, Patel will be responsible for implementing Adsure’s growth strategy in the healthcare sector, focusing on expanding into new regional markets and developing additional services to enhance value for existing clients.

The appointment marks a significant milestone for Adsure, as it completes TIAA’s new management structure with all four market lead positions now filled simultaneously for the first time.

This development is expected to position the specialist business assurance provider to maximise organic growth opportunities across all its operational sectors.

“We’re delighted to welcome Veran to TIAA’s leadership team,” said Kevin Limn, CEO of Adsure Services.

“His track record of delivering business assurance solutions to a range of clients will further strengthen our healthcare business unit. Veran’s appointment reflects our commitment to growth across all of TIAA’s sector portfolios and our focus on meeting our clients’ requirements.”

Today’s announcement follows a recent update from Adsure Services on the deployment of K10 software to improve effencies across the business. The software will also help Adsure train its proprietary AI large language model (LLM), which is being developed to bolster their services for government-funded organisations.

AstraZeneca has announced an agreement to acquire EsoBiotec, securing the biotechnology firm’s pioneering in vivo cell therapy platform that has shown promising early clinical results.

Under the terms of the transaction, AstraZeneca will acquire EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion on a cash and debt-free basis, comprising an initial payment of £425 million upon closing and potential additional payments of up to £575 million tied to development and regulatory achievements.

Through the acquisition, AstraZeneca will obtain EsoBiotec’s innovative Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform, a groundbreaking technology that employs highly targeted lentiviruses to deliver genetic instructions directly to specific immune cells within the patient’s body.

Once delivered, these instructions programme the cells to identify and eliminate tumour cells for cancer treatment, or target autoreactive cells for potential application in immune-mediated diseases.

Traditional cell therapies involve a cumbersome process—removing cells from patients, modifying them externally, and then reintroducing them after immune cell depletion.

This typically requires weeks of preparation. EsoBiotec’s approach, by contrast, allows for administration through a simple intravenous injection without the need for immune cell depletion, potentially transforming treatment from weeks to minutes.

“We are excited about the acquisition of EsoBiotec and the opportunity to rapidly advance their promising in vivo platform,” said Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca.

“We believe it has the potential to transform cell therapy and will enable us to scale these innovative treatments so that many more patients around the world can access them. EsoBiotec will accelerate and expand the impact of our recent investments and marks a major step forward in realising our ambition to harness the full potential of cell therapy.”