SRF joins capital effort to advance drug development for scleroderma
Foundation teams up with Vie Venture on autoimmune disease research
The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) announced that it has joined Vie Ventures to advance research and accelerate the development of innovative therapies for scleroderma and other autoimmune diseases.
The venture capital firm unites biotech investors with autoimmune disease organizations to fund the translation of scientific discoveries into the clinical development of new treatments. It was cofounded by Steven St. Peter, MD, and Luke Evnin, PhD — who serves as the SFR’s chairman.
“I’m excited to reunite with Steven and leverage our shared passion for discovering and advancing groundbreaking drug discovery companies focused on cross-autoimmune disease initiatives that have the potential to bring innovative therapeutics to market and change the standard of care,” Evnin said in a press release issued by the nonprofit.
Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the buildup of scar tissue, or fibrosis, particularly in the skin, where it leads to thickening, hardening, and inflammation. In systemic forms, the disease can also affect internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, muscles, and joints.
While a range of treatments — including immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory medications, and drugs targeting fibrosis — can help manage symptoms and slow progression, they do not stop or reverse the underlying fibrotic processes that drive the disease.
Drug development efforts targeting unmet need
Thus, there remains an unmet need for disease-modifying treatments that directly address the underlying mechanisms of scleroderma. These include therapies that inhibit profibrotic signaling pathways, more targeted modulation of immune responses, and approaches such as cell-based therapies and monoclonal antibodies aimed at key drivers of fibrosis and autoimmunity.
Vie Ventures’ collaborative effort directly supports SRF’s strategic goals, according to the nonprofit. This includes accelerating the development of novel treatments for scleroderma, as well as increasing disease awareness among biotechnology companies and advocacy organizations to attract more investment for research and drug development.
This bridge between disease-focused philanthropies and the for-profit world funding therapeutics is unique, and we believe it will enable us to make more informed investment decisions … and increase the probability they succeed.
Participation in Vie Ventures may also help SRF generate funding for its research efforts through potential returns on investment, the foundation noted. That would allow philanthropic capital to be reinvested into future programs that support scleroderma research.
According to the Vie Ventures team, “this bridge between disease-focused philanthropies and the for-profit world funding therapeutics is unique, and we believe it will enable us to make more informed investment decisions … and increase the probability they succeed.”
Part of the firm cofounders’ profits were also used for philanthropic efforts, including the formation of the Vie Ventures Foundation, whose mission is to advance strategies in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The fund is also joined by other autoimmune disease organizations, including those involved with multiple sclerosis, lupus, Sjögren’s disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases.
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