Geron Corporation

Biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery

Geron started business in 1992 and is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol GERN. To complement and strengthen Geron’s technology platforms Geron Bio-Med (formerly Roslin Bio-Med Ltd.) was acquired, a commercial subsidiary of the Roslin Institute which pioneered the use of nuclear transfer technology for the creation of cloned animals (sheep Dolly!). In 2004, Genron acquired rights from Argos Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Merix) to commercialise the ex vivo dendritic cell processing technology.

Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., President, CEO and Director
Alan B. Colowick, M.D., President, Oncology
David L. Greenwood, Executive VP, CFO, Treasurer and Secretary
David J. Earp, Ph.D., Chief Patent Counsel and Senior VP, Business Development
Jane S. Lebkowski, Ph.D., Senior VP, Regenerative Medicine
Calvin B. Harley, Ph.D., CSO
Melissa A. Kelly Behrs, Senior VP, Therapeutic Development, Oncology

Alexander E. Barkas, Ph.D., Chairman
Edward V. Fritzky
Charles J. Homcy, M.D.
Thomas D. Kiley
Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D.
John P. Walker
Patrick J. Zenner

230 Constitution Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
USA
Phone: +1-650-473-7700
Fax: +1-650-473-7750

Geron Corp. has three validated and complementary technology platforms: telomerase (enzyme involved in ageing), human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer (mechanism for copying adult animals), which support multiple product opportunities for pioneering new approaches to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, effect tissue repair in chronic degenerative diseases, as well as accelerate drug discovery and development.

Geron has developed methods to grow, maintain and scale up undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and differentiate them into therapeutically relevant cells for several diseases. In the spotlight are neural cells for spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease, cardiomyocytes for heart disease, pancreatic islet ß cells for diabetes, osteoblasts for osteoporosis, chondrocytes for osteoarthritis, and hematopoietic cells for blood diseases. In addition to their oncology core business, Geron also operates in the fields of agriculture, xenotransplantation and transgenic animals.

Geron is currently testing six different therapeutic cell types in animal models. After completion of these studies, Geron expect to begin one or more Phase I clinical trials in May 2004. The first clinical trial will focus on treatment for acute spinal cord injury. A Phase I/II clinical trial is being conducted by Duke University Medical Center testing the use of a telomerase vaccine therapy for prostate cancer. Since spring 2005, Geron started clinical testing (Phase I/II) of its lead anti-cancer compound, GRN163L, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

The following section contains a selection of the company’s most relevant patents. For comprehensive patent information please refer to the espacenet databases.