Sarepta Therapeutics has appointed Michael Severino, former CEO of Tessera Therapeutics and AbbVie research and development chief, as its new chief executive officer effective Tuesday, according to a July 27 announcement. Severino succeeds Doug Ingram, who announced his retirement earlier this year after nearly a decade leading the company.
Ingram revealed that two of his family members had been diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy (DM-1), a disease for which Sarepta is collaborating with Arrowhead Therapeutics to develop a treatment. The board said that while several candidates were considered during the search process, Severino was selected as the best fit.
“His industry experience, strategic vision and commitment to patients, coupled with having built industry-leading franchises across multiple therapeutic areas, give us great confidence as he works to build on Sarepta’s strengths and steer the company as it continues to advance promising science on behalf of patients,” M. Kathleen Behrens, board chair, said in a prepared statement.
Severino’s departure from Tessera was announced last week. He previously led genetic medicine biotech Tessera since 2022 and also served as a CEO-partner with Flagship Pioneering. Before those roles, he held leadership positions at AbbVie where he oversaw expansion into genetics and genomics, computational biology and precision medicine. His work included contributions to AbbVie products Rinvoq, Skyrizi and Venclexta, along with franchises in hematologic oncology, immunology and neuroscience.
The leadership transition comes at an important time for Sarepta. The company currently has applications before the Food and Drug Administration for two Duchenne muscular dystrophy drugs—Amondys 45 and Vyondys 53—after both failed confirmatory trials required for full marketing approval following their initial accelerated approvals in 2021 and 2019, respectively. Sarepta filed supplemental data including real-world evidence supporting safety of these therapies; analysts believe there remains potential for full approval given the severity of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
“I am particularly pleased that Mike inherits a company with a great team, a portfolio of life-changing therapies, a pipeline with exceptional potential and the financial resources to advance that science independently and at scale,” Ingram said in a statement. “Together we have already brought a better future to thousands of patients and I am confident that under Mike’s leadership Sarepta will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Severino said Monday, “Sarepta’s unwavering commitment to patients and science resonates deeply with me... I look forward to working with my new colleagues at Sarepta to continue to serve the Duchenne community.” Ingram will remain in an advisory role through year-end.
