Cambridge, Mass. — Sarepta Therapeutics has appointed Michael Severino, M.D., as chief executive officer, effective July 28, 2026, as longtime CEO Doug Ingram prepares to retire.
Severino, the former CEO of Tessera Therapeutics, will also join Sarepta’s Board of Directors. Ingram will remain with the company in an advisory role through the end of 2026 to support the leadership transition.
Severino brings more than 25 years of biopharmaceutical experience. Before joining Tessera, he served as Vice Chairman and President of AbbVie, where he oversaw research and development and the company’s corporate strategy office.
During his tenure at AbbVie, Severino helped expand the company’s pipeline and develop capabilities in genetics, genomics, computational biology and precision medicine. He contributed to the development of more than a dozen approved therapies, including Rinvoq, Skyrizi and Venclexta, and helped build AbbVie’s franchises in hematologic oncology, immunology and neuroscience.
“It is a privilege to join Sarepta, the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, and a company driven by an extraordinary purpose: bringing innovative therapies, hope and possibility to patients and families facing serious and life-threatening diseases,” said Severino. “Throughout my career, I have focused on combining cutting edge science with drug development and commercialization expertise to improve the lives of patients. Sarepta’s unwavering commitment to patients and science resonates deeply with me, and I was very encouraged by the long-term data supporting our approved products, and the pre-clinical and clinical data from the siRNA pipeline programs and the potential for best-in-class treatments. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at Sarepta to continue to serve the Duchenne community and expand our reach.”
M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D., Chairperson of Sarepta’s Board of Directors, said Severino was selected following a comprehensive search that considered several experienced candidates.
“Over a distinguished 25-year career in biopharmaceuticals, Mike has demonstrated a combination of scientific depth, development expertise, and proven execution that consistently delivers results,” Behrens said. “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.”
Behrens also credited Ingram with leading Sarepta’s development into a major genetic medicine company. During his tenure, the company secured approvals for two exon-skipping treatments and the first one-time gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
“Leading Sarepta has been the honor of my professional career,” said Ingram. “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. 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 and deliver an even greater impact for the people we serve.”
Severino had served as CEO of Tessera and as a CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering since 2022. Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at Amgen, including Senior Vice President of Global Development and Chief Medical Officer, and worked at Merck in clinical genomics, molecular profiling and experimental medicine.
He also serves on the boards of Avantor, Montai Health, Quotient Therapeutics and Viatris.
Severino earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his residency and postdoctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
