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

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/)

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