Pathway to Cures (P2C) announced their annual fund update meeting on Wednesday, September 11^th in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pathway to Cures (P2C) is the venture philanthropy fund for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) 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 and P2C. “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 four 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 meeting took place at Portal Innovations, a laboratory incubator facility in Atlanta’s Science Square. The event featured status updates on the current clinical trials from two of the emerging biotech companies Pathway to Cures has invested in since launching in November 2022. Afimmune’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Moayed Hamza, shared updates on their research into their new drug, Epeleuton™, for Sickle Cell disease, and CEO of Spark Biomedical, Inc., Daniel Powell, discussed their current clinical trial using a non-invasive, neurostimulation device for hemostasis in people with von Willebrand Disease and women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Both companies are seeing very promising early results, and through their relationship with the NBDF, they have access to a diverse community living with inheritable blood and bleeding disorders.

“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.”

“It is a win-win for our community when emerging biotechs partner with Pathway to Cures,” said Sharon Richardson, PhD, board member with Pathway to Cures and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. “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 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 or contact Renee Peck at rpeck@pathwaytocures.org.

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.

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