EP 223: Live at JPM: Rewriting disease with next-generation genetic medicines with Michelle Werner of Alltrna and Mike Severino of Tessera Therapeutics

Jan 22, 2026

Join Michelle Werner, CEO of Alltrna, who focuses on engineered tRNA therapeutics for rare genetic diseases, and Mike Severino, CEO of Tessera Therapeutics, specializing in RNA-based gene-writing platforms. They discuss how 2026 is a pivotal year for clinical trials, share groundbreaking preclinical results, and explore innovative strategies for addressing genetic mutations. The duo also highlights the importance of patient advocacy and the adaptability of their platforms to tackle various genetic disorders, marking a promising future in genetic medicine.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Multi-Step Specificity Reduces Off-Targets

Tessera's RNA-based writers combine LNP delivery with high efficiency and multi-step specificity to minimize unintended edits.
Multiple fidelity layers let them detect few or no off-target edits in their assays.

ADVICE

Equip Sites And Partner With Advocates

Prepare trial sites with strong genetic testing, disease expertise, and patient advocacy engagement.
Engage patient groups early to aid education, recruitment, and ensure trials match patient needs.

ADVICE

Account For Disease-Specific Care In Sites

Select sites that understand disease-specific standard of care quirks, e.g., nutritional management for metabolic disorders.
Ensure site teams can control such variables to avoid confounding trial outcomes.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined for a special recording at the Flagship Pioneering studio during JPM 2026 by Michelle Werner, CEO of Alltrna, and Mike Severino, CEO of Tessera Therapeutics. They discuss the molecular mechanisms behind Alltrna’s engineered tRNA and Tessera’s gene-writing platforms, why 2026 marks a major inflection point as both programs enter the clinic, and considerations around trial design, patient needs, and delivering therapies at scale.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

00:59 Welcome to Michelle and Mike

01:26 Overview of Alltrna’s therapeutic approach to rare genetic diseases using engineered tRNAs

03:19 Overview of Tessera Therapeutics’ gene writing approach

04:51 Preclinical evidence supporting first-in-human testing of Alltrna’s lead candidate

07:50 Why Tessera’s preclinical models are predictive of clinical success

10:40 Key features that differentiate Tessera’s RNA-based gene writing

14:02 Advantages of using basket trials for engineered tRNAs

18:00 Clinical trial design and early efficacy signals for gene writing in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

21:59 Genetic testing, patient identification, and patient advocacy in Alltrna trials

24:18 Differentiating Tessera’s gene writing approach for patients and investigators

26:35 Site readiness and expertise required for genetic medicine trials

28:32 Scaling Alltrna’s platform across mutations, tissues, and diseases

32:34 Expanding Tessera’s gene writing platform beyond alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

35:57 Perspectives on biotech funding, pharma partnerships, and rare disease investment

39:08 The data pharma looks for when partnering on novel genetic therapies

42:49 Emerging technologies Michelle and Mike are watching beyond their own platforms

47:19 Closing remarks

Find out more:

Alltrna (https://www.alltrna.com/)
Tessera Therapeutics (https://www.tesseratherapeutics.com/)

Please consider rating and reviewing us on your chosen podcast listening platform!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bp2_wVNSzntTs_zuoizU8bX1dvao4jfj/view?usp=share_link