Geron Corporation
2642277
222689938
2008-06-30T17:09:56Z
Nouse4aname
3858210
Again, remove POV. You can’t just present statements such as these in an encyclopaedia. You need to establish context.
{{Cleanup|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Geron Corporation |
company_logo = [[Image:GERN.gif]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]] {{NASDAQ|GERN}}|
foundation = [[1990]] |
location = [[Menlo Park, CA]] |
key_people = [[Thomas Okarma|Dr. Thomas B. Okarma]]: President and CEO; [[David L. Greenwood]]: CFO |
num_employees = 103<ref>[http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=GERN GERN: Profile for GERON CORP - Yahoo! Finance<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
industry = [[Biotechnology]]|
products = Cancer drugs (currently in human trials); Stem cell therapies for spinal cord injuries (human trials planned for early 2008) |
revenue = {{profit}} $3.277 Million [[U.S. dollar|USD]] ([[2006]])|
net_income = {{loss}}-$31.365 Million [[U.S. dollar|USD]] ([[2006]])|
homepage = [http://www.geron.com/ www.geron.com] |
}}
'''Geron Corporation''' is a biotechnology company founded by Dr. [[Michael D. West]] based in [[Menlo Park, California]]. The company was incorporated in 1990 and began doing business in 1992. Geron Corporation focuses on creating drugs based on [[telomere]] and [[stem cell]] research<ref>[http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18708320&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6 The Bulletin - Philadelphia's Family Newspaper - Deja Vu All Over Again With Stem Cells<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Geron is traded on the [[NASDAQ]] under the symbol GERN. The current [[chief executive officer]] is [[Thomas Okarma|Dr. Thomas B. Okarma]], M.D., Ph.D. It was included in the SCCC Index, a 15 stock index of companies important "to the field of stem cell, cloning, and cell transplantation research and medicine" when that index was created in 2003 and as of July 2006 comprises 18.42% of the index<ref>[http://www.stem-cell-companies.com/directory/Stocks/index.php Stem Cell Stocks : companies, profiles and links<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
The company specializes in developing and commercialization of products in three specific areas: 1) therapeutic products for cancer that inhibit [[telomerase]]; 2) pharmaceuticals that activate telomerase in tissues impacted by cell aging, injury or degenerative diseases; and 3) cell-based therapies derived from human embryonic stem cells for treatment of various chronic diseases<ref>[http://www.geron.com GERON<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Currently, Geron Corporation has two anti-cancer products in human clinical trials. The first, called GRN163L, is a drug that targets telomerase and has been shown to be effective in treating various cancers in animals<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Dec_12/ai_n15929902 Geron Announces Data on the Effects of Its Cancer Drug, GRN163L, on Multiple Myeloma at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In studies conducted at Johns Hopkins University GRN163L was active against both CD138+ and CD138neg cancer stem cells and eliminated the colony forming potential of both by 5 weeks. Similarly, GRN163L inhibited the in vitro clonogenic growth of CD138neg Multiple Myeloma Cancer Stem Cells isolated from the bone marrow aspirates of patients with Multiple Myeloma. Geron has started human clinical trials and is testing GRN163L in patients with [[lymphocytic leukemia]]<ref>[http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct/show/NCT00124189;jsessionid=33EA3CE22D7C6DC30189A0C057917B0D?order=1 Safety and Dose Study of GRN163L Administered Weekly to Treat Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Presently Geron is recruiting patients for 3 clinical trials using GRN163L, including lung cancer<ref>[http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct/show/NCT00510445?order=1 Safety and Dose Study of GRN163L With Paclitaxel and Carboplatin to Treat Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Non Small Cell Lung Cancer - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, chronic lymphocytic leukemia<ref>[http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct/show/NCT00124189?order=2 Safety and Dose Study of GRN163L Administered Weekly to Treat Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, solid tumors<ref>[http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct/show/NCT00310895?order=3 Safety and Dose Study of GRN163L Administered Weekly to Treat Patients With Solid Tumor Malignancies - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.Also in trials at Duke University is GRNVAC1, a telomerase vaccine being used on patients with [[prostate cancer]]. With the vaccine, Geron plans to inject telomerase into the patient with metastatic prostate cancer to induce the body to produce a more aggressive immune response to the cancer. This vaccine has also produced significant initial results. Geron's progress with these telomerase drugs has been significant enough to have elicited a significant monetary investment in 2005 from [[Merck & Co.|Merck]], one of the largest of the world's drug companies<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2005/09/12/daily2.html Geron plans stock offering, Merck buying $18M in shares - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Geron plans to begin testing of GRNOPC1 in 2008<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/07/21/stem-cell-research-cz_kd_0721stemcell.html Despite Bush Veto, Stem Cell Research Abounds - Forbes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. GRNOPC1 is an embryonic stem cell based drug that is designed to treat spinal cord injuries. Animal tests have shown significant restoration of mobility in animals with spinal injuries that were treated with this drug. After initiating trials for human subjects with spinal cord injuries, Geron hopes to be able to test GRNIC1, an embryonic stem cell treatment for [[diabetes]]. In tests with diabetic mice, 80% of the mice given GRNIC1 were still alive in 50 days while the entire control group, which was given no treatment, perished<ref>[http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=3153413 News: Geron Presents New Data That Document Progress in Development of Therapeutic Products from Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - Biotechnology from Bench to Business<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Geron is also developing an embryonic stem cell treatment for [[heart disease]], which they have named GRNCM1.
Beyond stem cells, Geron is in the early stages of developing a telomerase based treatment for [[HIV]] called TAT0002. Geron has granted a license to [http://www.tasciences.com TAsciences.com] to sell TA-65, a telomerase activator agent derived from the Chinese [[Astragalus]] plant. [[TA Sciences]] will offer this product beginning in April of 2007<ref>[http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?s=&act=ST&f=6&t=15434&st=0 TA Sciences announces TA-65 - ImmInst Forums<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
Since it was organized in 1990 Geron has been granted over 260 patents<ref>[http://www.geron.com/showpage.asp?code=prodpa Geron - Patents<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
==Geron Corporation's patents in stem cell technology==
Geron Corporation initially held exclusive rights to three cell types derived from embryonic stem cells, as the result of paying for the research originally conducted by [[James Thomson (cell biologist)|Dr. James Thomson]] at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.<ref>[http://badgerherald.com/news/2002/01/22/warf_geron_reach_set.php The Badger Herald - WARF, Geron reach settlement<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The patents on the other three cell types are owned by the [[Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation]] (WARF). WARF and Geron did not charge academics to study human stem cells but did charge commercial users. In 2001 WARF came under public pressure to widen access to human stem-cell technology, and they launched legal action against Gron Corporation to recover some of the previously sold rights. The two sides agreed that Geron would keep the rights to only three cell types.<ref>[http://www.genetics-and-society.org/newsdisp.asp?id=1033 Center for Genetics and Society : How a University's Patents May Limit Stem-Cell Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The whole area of patents for human stem cell work is now in doubt as a legal challenge is being mounted to overturn these patents by [[The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights]] and the non-profit patent-watchdog [[Public Patent Foundation]].<ref>[http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/718/2 ScienceNOW - Sign In<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> They contend that 2 of the patents granted to WARF are invalid because they cover a technique published in 1992 for which a patent had already been granted to an Australian researcher. Another part of the challenge comes from the molecular biologist [[Jeanne Loring]] who states that [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]] stem cell pioneer [[James Thomson]]'s techniques (currently patents held by WARF) are rendered obvious by a 1990 paper and 2 textbooks.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} The outcome of this legal challenge is particularly relevant to the Geron Corporation as it can only license patents that are upheld.<ref>[http://www.genetics-and-society.org/newsdisp.asp?id=1039 Center for Genetics and Society : Stem Cell Patents Come Under Fire<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
As an interim measure, on [[January 23]], [[2007]] WARF relaxed the stem cell patents, allowing industry-sponsored research at academic and non-profit institutions without a license.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20070123-9999-1b23stems.html SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business > Biotechnology - Stem cell scientists shout out hallelujah<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> WARF will allow easier and simpler cost free cell transfers among researchers and would not require a license or agreement from California's taxpayer-funded stem cell research program. The patents are now being re-examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.<ref>http://www.pubpat.org/warfstemcelleased.htm"</ref>
==Congressional Testimony==
As a participant in the stem cell and cloning area, Geron Corporation has been asked to testify about its technology before the U.S. Congress. In 2001 <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2001/04/05/0305cloning.html Geron's Cloning Quandary - Forbes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_22/b3835716.htm BW Online | June 2, 2003 | Online Extra: Thomas Okarma: Don't Ban Stem-Cell Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://energycommerce.house.gov/reparchives/107/hearings/06202001Hearing291/print.htm H.R. 1644, Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001, and H.R.____, Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> when Congress was attempting to ban all forms of cloning, Geron Corporation C.E.O. Thomas Okarma spoke before Congress to preserve cloning for therapeutic purposes.
==References==
<references />
==External links==
<!-- Removed a bunch of links about controversy related to the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. No mentions of the company were included. GRBerry 10-Jul-2006 -->
*[http://www.geron.com Corporate web site]
*[http://biohealthinvestor.com/2006/12/gerons-research-arsenal-stem-cells.html BioHealth Investor Feature Article]
*[http://stemcellsclub.com/stemcellsclub/stemcellstocks/components.html SCCC Index] of stem cell, cloning, and cell therapy stocks. Geron is a component of the SCCC Index.
[[Category:Companies in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index]]
[[Category:Biotechnology companies]]
[[Category:Stem cells]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Companies based in Silicon Valley]]
[[pt:Geron Corporation]]