Seragene lands funding for new therapies for bleeding disorders
Biotech company targets long-acting RNA-based drugs for conditions like VWD
Written by |
Seragene Therapeutics has received funding from Pathway to Cures, the venture philanthropy fund of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), to advance the development of novel therapies for bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease (VWD).
The investment will support Seragene’s efforts to develop first-in-class, long-acting RNA-based drugs that modulate blood clotting directly in the body. The company’s goal is to restore normal clotting with therapies that require less frequent dosing than current treatments, improving the quality of life for people with bleeding disorders.
“The potential for Seragene’s innovative therapies to improve lives in our bleeding disorders community, especially for women and girls, makes this an exciting partnership for us,” Teri Willey, managing director and officer of Pathway to Cures, said in a press release. “We are delighted to expand our portfolio with this strategic investment and impact the treatment of bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease [(VWD)], with a focus on women’s health.”
Potential therapies could reduce need for frequent dosing
Bleeding disorders are conditions in which the blood does not clot properly, usually because the body lacks certain clotting factors — proteins essential for forming stable blood clots. VWD, the most common bleeding disorder, occurs when the blood lacks enough of a functional protein that helps platelets, the tiny cell fragments in blood, stick together to form a clot. Without it, clots form more slowly, which can lead to heavy, difficult-to-stop bleeding.
As a result, people may experience frequent nosebleeds, heavy bruising, or dangerous internal bleeding after an injury or surgery. Women and girls may be especially affected because bleeding symptoms can be more severe during menstruation or childbirth.
While current therapies focus on supplying the body with missing clotting proteins to prevent dangerous bleeding, Seragene is taking a different approach by developing therapies that work within the body to restore normal clotting function.
SeraGene leverages RNA-based therapies that are carried directly into liver cells by lipid nanoparticles — tiny fat-based particles — to modulate the levels of proteins involved in blood clotting.
These therapies are designed to remain active in the body for a longer period, potentially reducing the need for frequent dosing.
Seragene spun out from two major North American blood research centers: the Versiti Blood Research Institute in Wisconsin and the Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in Canada. The company, which is based in Vancouver, is also supported by Canada’s Nanomedicines Innovation Network.
It has already been named as a “Company to Watch” at the Life Sciences BC Awards, received the Coup de Coeur prize at Sweet Pharma Day, and was selected as a finalist in this year’s Eli Lilly Grand Challenge.
Pathway to Cures joins Seragene’s existing early investors, including Hextwo Capital and other investment firms, in backing the company’s mission.
