Regeneron Puts Up $150M to Partner on Tessera Gene-Editing Med for Rare Liver & Lung Disorder

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is committing $150 million to begin an alliance on a Tessera Therapeutics gene-editing medicine nearing the clinic as a potential treatment for a rare disease that leads to debilitating effects on the liver and lungs.

The deal announced Monday puts Regeneron in the mix of a small group of companies working to bring patients genetic medicines that address the underlying cause of this disorder, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or AATD. For Tessera, a startup founded by Flagship Pioneering, the deal lends validation to both the therapy, TSRA-196, and the platform technology that produced it. The deal also provides that program with the financial resources to support its clinical development.

In AATD, a genetic mutation leads to abnormal alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT),