DNA

Unlocking the curative power of tRNA

Our proven tRNA platform has the potential to treat a wide range of genetic disorders

Our Story

Tevard Biosciences was founded by MIT Molecular Biologist and Professor Harvey Lodish, along with Daniel Fischer and Warren Lammert, with the goal of developing transformational therapies for rare diseases.

Daniel Fischer and Warren Lammert are both parents of children with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy.

Our Science

We are developing unique tRNA-based therapies with the potential to provide durable cures for rare diseases.

Normal protein production

In normal protein production, tRNAs recognize and decode each codon in the mRNA, adding the specified amino acid to the growing protein until a stop codon terminates production.

Nonsense mutation

Nonsense mutations encode a premature stop codon that halts translation and prevents formation of a functional full-length protein.

Suppressor tRNA

Suppressor tRNAs can target a class of mutations rather than a specific gene, allowing our therapies to treat multiple diseases. This unlocks the potential for cost-effective development using basket clinical trials and label expansions.

Advantages of tRNA therapeutics

Able to target genes of any size

Broad applicability across diseases

Protein restoration limited to gene-expressing cells

No risk of overexpression

Durable effect with AAV delivery

Our Pipeline

At Tevard, we continue to push our technology forward to find cures for all inherited human diseases caused by nonsense mutations that affect millions of people worldwide.


From cardiomyopathy to epilepsy, our platform has proven to restore protein levels across a range of organs and tissues by targeting and overcoming the underlying disease-causing mutation.

Titin (TTN) is the largest protein in the human body and is essential for cardiac function. Truncating mutations in TTN are the most frequent genetic cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and are associated with more severe outcomes in patients of all ages. More than 70,000 people in the US are estimated to be living with DCM caused by nonsense mutations in TTN. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies for these patients. Our suppressor tRNA technology has demonstrated the ability to restore full-length TTN protein in a mouse model.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes dystrophin, a protein required for muscle function. There are more than 1,700 people in the US living with DMD caused by nonsense mutations. Existing therapeutics, and those currently under development, produce shortened versions of dystrophin. Our suppressor tRNA technology has demonstrated the ability to restore full-length dystrophin protein and rescue muscle deficits in a mouse model of DMD.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are the most severe category of genetic epilepsies. More than 10,000 people in the US are living with DEEs caused by nonsense mutations. Our suppressor tRNA technology can potentially treat DEEs caused by nonsense mutations through a basket clinical trial.

Leadership Team

Tevard has assembled a team of scientific, clinical, and industry leaders to drive tRNA therapies to patients in a timeframe that matters.

Harvey Lodish, Ph.D.

Co-Founder, Chair of the SAB, and Board Member

Warren Lammert

Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Jeffery Coller, Ph.D.

Scientific Co-Founder, Scientific Advisor

Daniel Fischer

Co-Founder, President and CEO, Board Member

Paul Schimmel, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor, Board Member

Susan Ackerman, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Zoya Ignatova, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Amy Salzhauer

Board Member

David Liu, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Jeffrey Walsh

Board Member

Lawrence Olanoff, MD, Ph.D.

Board Member

Nicholas Ingolia, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Ben Deverman, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Orrin Devinsky, M.D.

Scientific Advisor, Board Observer

Travis Hinson, M.D.

Scientific Advisor

Daniel Lazzari, MBA

CFO

Paul Kaplan, Ph.D.

VP of Development Operations

Peter Eimon, Ph.D.

Director of Research

Lita Nelsen

Advisor

Xiaohua Wang, Ph.D.

Board Observer

Geoffrey Pitt, M.D., Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

Al George, Ph.D.

Scientific Advisor

John Maraganore

Board Member

News

Aug 13 2024

Tevard Biosciences to Move Corporate Headquarters to Lilly Gateway Labs in Boston’s Seaport

August 13, 2024, Cambridge, MA — Tevard Biosciences, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company pioneering tRNA-based therapies to cure a broad range of genetic diseases, today announced that it will be moving its corporate headquarters to Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL) located in the Seaport District in Boston. Tevard was selected to join the LGL community […]

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Jun 24 2024

Industry Veteran and RNA Therapeutics Expert, John Maraganore, Joins Tevard Biosciences as Strategic Advisor and Board Observer

June 24, 2024, Cambridge, MA — Tevard Biosciences, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company pioneering tRNA-based therapies to cure a broad range of genetic diseases, today announced the appointment of John Maraganore, Ph.D., as a Strategic Advisor and Board Observer. Dr. Maraganore brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of RNA therapeutics. […]

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Careers

At Tevard we are looking for highly-qualified and passionate professionals to join our team. As a member of our team you will become a part of our mission to develop novel tRNA-based gene therapies to transform patients’ and families’ lives.

Research Associate – in vivo Pharmacology
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Research Associate – mRNA Biology
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