Pathway to Cures Invests in SeraGene Therapeutics
The fifth paragraph of the original release dated November 19, 2025, should read: Pathway to Cures joins Hextwo Capital as early investors in SeraGene Therapeutics.
The fully updated and expanded release appears below.
PATHWAY TO CURES INVESTS IN SERAGENE THERAPEUTICS
Pathway to Cures, the venture philanthropy innovation fund established by the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), today announced a strategic investment in SeraGene Therapeutics, an emerging biotechnology company at the forefront of RNA-based therapies for coagulation disorders. This investment underscores NBDF’s growing commitment to accelerating scientific breakthroughs that can transform the lives of individuals living with bleeding and clotting conditions—an area where treatment options are still limited, highly specialized, and in many cases inaccessible to patients globally.
SeraGene Therapeutics was born out of decades of academic excellence and translational research at two world-renowned institutions: the Versiti Blood Research Institute in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and the Center for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada. The company’s scientific foundation is further strengthened by the support of Canada’s Nanomedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), a nationally funded center of excellence focused on advancing next-generation nanotherapeutics. Although the company’s global collaborations span North America, SeraGene is headquartered in Vancouver—a rapidly growing hub for biotechnology innovation.
Since its founding, SeraGene has quickly risen to prominence in the competitive landscape of RNA and nanomedicine therapies. In 2024, the company was named a “Company to Watch” at the Life Sciences BC Awards, signaling its early promise as a high-impact innovator. That same year, the team earned the Coup de Coeur prize at Sweet Pharma Day, an honor recognizing exceptional scientific creativity and disruptive potential. In 2025, SeraGene was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Eli Lilly Grand Challenge, a distinction that placed it among the most promising emerging biotech companies in the world.
A New Frontier in RNA Medicine for Coagulation Disorders
SeraGene’s therapeutic platform centers on proprietary RNA technology designed to precisely modulate key components of the coagulation system. Its approach represents a departure from conventional treatments such as factor replacement therapies, monoclonal antibodies, or small molecule inhibitors, which often require lifelong, frequent dosing and provide inconsistent protection from bleeding or clotting events.
The company’s research pipeline features two core mechanisms:
- Targeted Suppression of Plasminogen:
By selectively reducing plasminogen levels, SeraGene’s technology can stabilize clot formation, offering a groundbreaking new strategy for patients who experience excessive bleeding. This approach may provide a more physiologic and durable means of preventing bleeding episodes, especially in conditions where traditional therapies fall short. - Enhanced Expression of Key Coagulation Genes:
In cases where specific clotting factors or regulatory proteins are deficient, the company’s RNA-based approach can boost the expression of these essential components. This precision upregulation is achieved without permanently altering DNA, potentially offering a safer and more flexible solution than gene editing or viral-vector gene therapies.
To deliver these therapeutic RNAs, SeraGene employs advanced lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), engineered to transport payloads efficiently and safely to liver cells—the central site of coagulation factor production. LNP-based delivery provides numerous advantages: improved targeting, reduced systemic exposure, longer durability of effect, and more consistent therapeutic outcomes. These benefits could substantially reduce the need for frequent dosing and improve the long-term stability of treatment, addressing a critical unmet need for many patients, including women and individuals with rare conditions.
Addressing Critical Gaps in Women’s Health and Rare Disorders
Although bleeding disorders are often associated with male patients—particularly those with hemophilia—millions of women worldwide experience significant symptoms from conditions such as von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet function disorders, and hormonal bleeding complications that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. Women and girls with bleeding disorders frequently face diagnostic delays, inconsistent care pathways, heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy complications, and social stigma that impede their quality of life.
SeraGene’s therapeutic approaches hold promise for improving health outcomes for these underserved populations. Its precision RNA modulation could normalize clot formation, reduce bleeding severity, and minimize the treatment burden—especially critical for women whose symptoms fluctuate throughout menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and other life stages.
“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,” said Teri Willey, Managing Director and Officer of NBDF’s Pathway to Cures venture fund. “We are delighted to expand our portfolio with this strategic investment and advance the treatment landscape for conditions such as von Willebrand disease, where the unmet need remains especially high.”
Willey emphasized that the partnership reflects not only a commitment to scientific innovation but also an intention to broaden access to novel treatments. The Pathway to Cures fund is specifically structured to catalyze early-stage development in emerging therapeutic areas that align with NBDF’s mission. By supporting companies like SeraGene, the fund aims to accelerate the translation of promising science into meaningful clinical solutions.
Venture Philanthropy Driving Transformational Innovation
Pathway to Cures represents an evolving model in health-focused philanthropy, blending the goals of charitable mission and high-impact venture investment. Rather than acting solely as a grant-making body, the fund invests directly in early-stage companies whose work has the potential to reshape patient care. Returns generated from these investments are reinvested into additional research, thus creating a sustainable cycle of innovation.
SeraGene Therapeutics aligns closely with this mission-driven strategy. Its platform has broad potential across a spectrum of coagulation disorders—from common yet underdiagnosed conditions such as VWD to highly rare disorders that lack effective therapies. Moreover, RNA-based and nanoparticle-delivered treatments may eventually complement or even replace more invasive, costly, or burdensome treatment modalities that dominate the field today.
A Growing Network of Investors Supporting SeraGene’s Mission
With this latest investment, Pathway to Cures joins Hextwo Capital as early supporters of SeraGene’s innovative therapeutic pipeline. Hextwo Capital, an early-stage venture fund with expertise in life sciences, has been instrumental in supporting the company’s foundational development, team expansion, and preclinical progress.
The addition of Pathway to Cures represents a significant milestone in the company’s development trajectory, bringing not only financial resources but also deep connections to the bleeding disorders community, clinical experts, and patient advocacy groups. This partnership positions SeraGene to accelerate the progression of its lead programs toward first-in-human studies and ultimately to the clinical proof-of-concept stage—an essential step in demonstrating the transformative potential of its approach.
SeraGene Therapeutics is currently advancing a robust preclinical pipeline and expanding collaborations with leading academic and clinical partners across North America. The company’s next phase of development will focus on scaling manufacturing capabilities, conducting IND-enabling studies, and preparing regulatory submissions for its first-in-human trials. As the need for safer, more precise, and more durable therapies grows internationally, SeraGene aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of coagulation disorder treatment.
Pathway to Cures’ investment represents strong confidence in SeraGene’s vision and the potential of its scientific approach. Together, both organizations are working toward a shared mission: ensuring that individuals living with bleeding and coagulation disorders—especially those long overlooked by the medical system—can access innovative, effective, and life-changing treatments.
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