Coming Together for a Cure

Team NPF brings together communities across the country in support of people living with psoriatic disease. While participants are often those with psoriatic disease or people caring for others with psoriatic disease, that is not the case for the Team NPF Walk in San Diego, California.

This year, the number one fundraising team is from AnaptysBio, a San Diego based biotechnology company developing treatments for patients with inflammatory diseases, like psoriasis, a chronic disease associated with inflammation throughout the body. For AnaptysBio CEO Hamza Suria, the event is more than just a good photo-op, “It's a broader human mission," Suria shares “It drives a sense of belonging and togetherness that we love to create among our team.”

With around 80 people from the company participating in the walk, nearly three quarters of the company was there this November, but Hamza is quick to point out that “we probably had over 90 plus percent participation in terms of fundraising.”  

For AnaptysBio, scientists and clinicians come together with a goal of improving patient outcomes by developing biologics that target inflammatory pathways in the body. One of their therapeutic antibodies in their pipeline is indicated for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis, a rare type of psoriasis where pustules can suddenly develop over large areas of the body.

The company offers various incentives for employees to participate in the Team NPF Walk, including an extra vacation day for the highest fundraiser and auctioning off lunch with the CEO. Suria says that beyond prizes or knowing someone with psoriatic disease, which some employees do, they all have a personal connection to psoriasis. “We’re all deep in the science. We're all deep in the in the medical aspect of psoriasis,” Suria says. “This is what we spend our time and effort working on every day.”

After six years of participating in the Team NPF Walk in San Diego, including participating virtually in 2020, it has become a well-loved tradition in the company. AnaptysBio started out raising a few thousand dollars, and since 2018 they have been the top fundraising team, increasing funds raised nearly every year.

This year, the company nearly tripled their fundraising from 2020, raising over $32,000. Part of their success this year was thanks to other companies joining their efforts. Suria encourages other companies to follow their lead and make Team NPF part of their narrative as a business, and to truly embrace the mission of NPF. “Not just financially but [also] make the effort and show up and talk about what that means,” Suria says. “It changes our understanding of what we're here for. This is not just a job. This is not just a company.  We are here to help patients.”

Team NPF hosts walks, runs, and cycling events, as well as the Pstamp Out Psoriatic Disease bingo nights at cities around the nation. If you do not see any upcoming events in your area, you can always join any Team NPF event virtually, no travel required. You can also create your own event, whether that means participating in your local 5k or doing yoga with goats. Whatever you choose to do, your efforts will advance the NPF mission to cure psoriatic disease.