Pathway to Cures Announces Annual Fund Update

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pathway to Cures, the venture philanthropy fund of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), presented their annual fund update at the NBDF Research Round Table in Washington, DC last month.

NBDF’s Pathway to Cures fund is focused on investing in emerging biotech companies developing cures, therapies, or enabling technologies in support of the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community. Inheritable blood and bleeding disorders include rare and ultra-rare blood disorders, hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease, Sickle Cell disease, anemia, clotting disorders, and other hematological disorders, affecting more than 20 million people worldwide.

“People who have rare and ultra-rare bleeding and blood disorders desperately need better therapy and treatment options to provide them with a better quality of life,” said Phil Gattone, CEO of the NBDF. “Pathway to Cures offers hope through innovation by investing donor dollars into novel ways to address problems that have existed for thousands of years for our community. As a result of these successful investments, we will be able to amplify those returns into more research and services provided through the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation.”

“We are encouraged by the incredibly talented scientists around the world who are looking for cures and treatments in rare diseases,” said Tim Brent, Pathway to Cures Venture Principal. “We have made investments into five very promising start-up biotech companies thus far and have more in the pipeline to support as we grow our fund through transformational donations to our venture fund.”

The venture fund update featured a traditional venture fund overview by managing director and fund officer, Teri Willey, sharing metrics. The highlights included video updates from the CEOs of four of Pathway to Cures’ portfolio companies Joanne Smith-Farrell, Be Biopharma; Liz Acamo, Seawolf Therapeutics; Erika Siren, SeraGene Therapeutics; and Daniel Powell, Spark Biomedical.

Be Biopharma’s BE-101 designed for hemophilia B is a B-cell medicine that took less than 2.5 years from creation to IND and will be durable, redosable (once or twice yearly), and titratable with no preconditioning and can be available to treat children. It is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trial enrolling patients with data reported in 2026.

Seawolf Therapeutics has built a nonvirally delivered DNA platform for redosable, durable therapeutic benefit with programs for hemophilia A and B. The company’s founders have developed its TRIDENT platform through inspiration from viruses to overcome the barriers for nucleus entry by the DNA therapy.

SeraGene Therapeutics’ proprietary RNA technology precisely suppresses plasminogen to stabilize a clot or enhances the expression of specific genes needed for coagulation, delivered using advanced lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). These LNPs transport the RNA directly to liver cells, unlocking greater treatment precision and reducing the need for frequent dosing compared to traditional approaches. The company’s therapies are designed to be durable and redoseable, aiming to restore normal blood function and significantly improve patient quality of life—particularly for women and those with rare coagulation disorders.

Spark Biomedical has developed a proprietary non-invasive wearable neurostimulation device and is currently available under its wellness brand, OhmBody. The vagus nerve is stimulated by the signal going to the spleen, where approximately 30% of platelets are housed at any time. Those platelets are then primed and help to form stronger clots more quickly. Studies have shown reduction in blood loss by approximately 50%. This is based on over 20 years of published research. Spark Biomedical has focused on women with Von Willebrand Disease with heavy menstrual bleeding as well as for women with idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding. They are currently seeking FDA approval as a medical device.

“Through our review of emerging biotech companies researching innovative therapies for the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community, Pathway to Cures is assisting these talented researchers in developing novel technology and treatments,” said Michael Recht, MD, PhD, MBA, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Pathway to Cures and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. “A crucial benefit for many of these start-up companies is access to the people who are living with these conditions through the relationship with NBDF as well as P2C’s Scientific Advisory Group’s experts who assist with advising in the design of their research studies. Furthermore, NBDF’s research team maintains a rich patient database as well as having lived experience experts (LEEs) who can provide insights into the development process of future drugs or devices to provide them with a better quality of life.”

About Pathway to Cures

Pathway to Cures (P2C) is the venture philanthropy fund of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation created to accelerate the development of cures across all inheritable blood and bleeding disorders. In collaboration with other organizations, P2C invests in innovative therapies and technologies, leveraging the deep resources and scientific community relationships of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. By reinvesting proceeds from investments back into the fund, P2C will amplify the investment impact, support promising biotech companies, and build a portfolio of investments that further the mission of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. For more information, visit www.pathwaytocures.org; contact Tim Brent at tbrent@pathwaytocures.org and follow us on LinkedIn.

About National Bleeding Disorders Foundation

The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) is dedicated to finding cures for inheritable blood and bleeding disorders and addressing and preventing these disorders’ complications through research, education, and advocacy, enabling people and families to thrive. Today, NBDF serves people across the United States with all bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet disorders. The foundation also supports a network of 50 chapters across the country. To learn more, visit www.bleeding.org and follow NBDF across social media @nbd_foundation.

About NBDF’s Virtual Advisory Boards

NBDF’s Research Department facilitates qualitative research through virtual and in-person advisory panels for partners seeking the patient perspective on clinical trial design, access, educational materials, and more. NBDF’s community-based registry, Community Voices in Research (CVR), engages individuals with bleeding disorders and their loved ones to share their lived experiences, daily activities, and quality-of-life impacts. This registry allows NBDF to identify and invite potential advisory panel participants by diagnosis and other relevant characteristics (such as diagnosis, age, or sex). Beyond participant recruitment, CVR data provide valuable insights into community needs, treatment experiences, and priorities that can inform partner initiatives. NBDF is currently scheduling advisory panels through 2026. For more information and details, please NBDF’s Community voices in research https://www.bleeding.org/research/community-voices-in-research or contact Samantha Carlson, LMSW, Director of Research at scarlson@bleeding.org.

Contacts

Teri Willey

twilley@pathwaytocures.org
Pathway to Cures

National Bleeding Disorders Foundation