EP 173: Tackling genetic cardiomyopathy from the bed to the bench with Eric Adler of Lexeo Therapeutics and UCSD

Summary: 

This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Eric Adler, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research at Lexeo Therapeutics and Professor of Medicine at University of California San Diego. Eric shares his experience with genetic cardiomyopathy and his work on gene therapy for Danon disease, drawing from both clinical and research perspectives. Additionally, he explores the evolution of the field and the broader challenges faced by cardiovascular patients.

Show Notes: 

0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast

01:00 Welcome to Eric and his efforts in cardiomyopathy at the bench and bedside

03:32 How modeling genetic diseases using pluripotent stem cells lead Eric to studying Danon disease 

04:50 Pivoting from basic to translational research using adeno-associated viruses (AAV)-based gene therapy

07:58 Uncovering genetic cardiomyopathies that were misdiagnosed as idiopathic cardiomyopathy

09:55 Treatment, screening, and penetrance of Danon disease

12:30 Recent successes and remaining challenges in cardiovascular disease

19:47 Battling distrust in the medical profession

21:55 Preventative therapy using APOE2 for patients at risk of early Alzheimer’s

25:15 Motivations behind and advantages of Eric’s patient-centered approach to therapeutics

27:24 Balancing regulatory requirements for protocols versus patient needs

29:49 The importance of committed clinical partners for successful trial execution

36:08 Eric’s passion for cooking and how he won a cooking competition

39:02 Closing remarks and Lexeo Therapeutics’ aims for 2025

Find out more

• Lexeo Therapeutics (https://www.lexeotx.com/)

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