# Akin Akinc

> Akin Akinc is the founding CEO of Aera Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts biotech building a new way to deliver genetic medicines using human protein nanoparticles derived from the body's own retroelements. A chemical engineer by training, he spent nearly two decades at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, where he helped invent the lipid nanoparticle delivery that produced ONPATTRO, the world's first approved RNAi therapeutic, and later ran the Givlaari and fitusiran programs. Recruited by CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang, Akinc launched Aera out of stealth in 2023 with $193 million to tackle what he calls genetic medicine's single greatest unmet need: delivery.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Aera Therapeutics
- **Organizations:** Aera Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
- **Education:** B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- **Known for:** Co-led the lipid nanoparticle delivery research behind ONPATTRO, the world's first approved RNAi therapeutic, Led GIVLAARI (givosiran) from Phase 3 through FDA approval (2019) and multi-market launch, Managed the fitusiran hemophilia program from discovery through Phase 3 (now marketed as Qfitlia by Sanofi)

## Career timeline

- **~2003** — Joins Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, beginning nearly two decades in R&D and commercial roles
- **2018** — Co-led lipid nanoparticle delivery work that enabled ONPATTRO, the first FDA-approved RNAi therapeutic
- **2019** — Led GIVLAARI from Phase 3 through FDA approval and launch as General Manager
- **2022** — Joins Aera Therapeutics as founding CEO, recruited by Feng Zhang
- **2023** — Launches Aera Therapeutics out of stealth with $193M in financing

## Achievements

- Co-led the lipid nanoparticle delivery research behind ONPATTRO, the world's first approved RNAi therapeutic
- Led GIVLAARI (givosiran) from Phase 3 through FDA approval (2019) and multi-market launch
- Managed the fitusiran hemophilia program from discovery through Phase 3 (now marketed as Qfitlia by Sanofi)
- Served as Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology at Alnylam
- Founding CEO of Aera Therapeutics, raising $193 million across Series A and B

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Aera Therapeutics appointed Paul Conrad, Ph.D., MBA, as Chief Business and Financial Officer.
- **2025-06** — Akinc appeared as a speaker at the BIO International Convention 2025.

## Links

- Website: https://aeratx.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/akin-akinc-38b15145

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/akin-akinc
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-19