Dr. John Maraganore, founding CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and co-founder of City Therapeutics, discusses his journey from a Greek immigrant household to pioneering RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. He highlights Alnylam’s growth from a startup to a major biotech company, leading to the first FDA-approved RNAi therapy. John shares insights on decision-making, mentorship, and the future of RNA therapies. He also discusses his new ventures, including Corsera Health, focusing on cardiovascular disease prevention using RNAi.

* John shares his upbringing in Chicago, growing up with Greek immigrant parents. He describes his early interest in science and research, leading him to choose a PhD path over an MD. He credits his mother with giving him optimism and his father with fostering a passion for science.

* John explains the challenges of developing small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules and the decade-long effort to create acceptable human therapeutics.

* John reflects on his career and the importance of being unreasonable and persistent in driving progress. He shares his excitement about his new upcoming book, “The Importance of Being Unreasonable,” which will provide insights on leading biotech companies.

* John advises aspiring entrepreneurs to gain industry experience before starting their own companies. He emphasizes the importance of networking and staying in close touch with academic leaders and venture capitalists. He shares his philosophy of giving back to the community and helping young leaders succeed.

Co-Hosts: Jennifer Jiang, Yossef Baidi & Fang Xie

Planning: Yossef Baidi

Post-production: Jennifer Jiang, Fang Xie & Yossef Baidi

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