Geron Announces Issuance of Telomerase Patents
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 10, 1997--Geron Corporation
(NASDAQ:GERN) today announced the issuance of three important U.S. patents
providing protection for the company's telomerase therapeutic and diagnostic
development programs.
Telomerase, which plays a critical role in cancer, is believed to be the
enzyme which confers life-threatening replicative immortality on cancer cells.
Since it is active in all cancer types studied, telomerase is a potentially
universal target for treating cancer.
The enzyme also appears to be highly specific to cancer cells, suggesting
that patients receiving telomerase inhibition therapy should not experience
the side effects associated with today's cancer treatments. The apparent
universality and specificity of telomerase also means the enzyme may have
important diagnostic applications.
The first patent (U.S. patent No. 5,645,986, issued July 8) relates to
Geron's proprietary telomerase inhibitor screening assay in which a test agent
is incubated with telomerase, and a probe is used to detect telomerase
products. The method is broadly applicable to high throughput screening
automation. This patent arose through a collaboration between Geron, The
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of
California, San Francisco.
The second patent (U.S. patent No. 5,629,154, issued May 13) covers Geron's
novel assay for telomerase activity, called Telomeric Repeat Amplification
Protocol (TRAP), and related assays. Together with the July 8 patent, Geron
has now patented the most widely used telomerase activity assay, as well as
broadly applicable screening technology to identify telomerase inhibitors.
The third patent (U.S. patent No. 5,639,613, issued June 17) claims cancer
prognostic methods in which the level of telomerase activity in a cancer cell
or tumor is correlated with the severity of the disease. This patent is
issued to Geron's collaborator, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas, and licensed exclusively to Geron.
"These patents complement Geron's extensive patent portfolio, giving us an
unusually strong proprietary position in the field of telomerase and cancer,"
said Ronald W. Eastman, Geron president and chief executive officer. "They
enhance Geron's ability to develop a telomerase inhibitor as a novel cancer
therapeutic and to develop telomerase as the cancer marker of choice for
oncologists.
"We believe telomerase-based diagnostics will enable physicians to better
detect cancer, determine its severity and prescribe appropriate treatment. In
addition, we expect the diagnostic products to pave the way for introduction
of telomerase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer."
Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and
developing therapeutic and diagnostic products based upon the company's
understanding of telomeres and telomerase in cells, fundamental biological
mechanisms underlying cancer and other age-related diseases.
Note: This release moved over Business Wire July 10, 1997
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are subject
to change. Actual results may differ materially from those described in any
forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that
could affect the company's results are included in the company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997.
CONTACT: Geron Corporation, Kevin Kaster or David Greenwood, 415/473-7700
or StratiPoint Group, Inc., Mike Jackman, 415/388-3216 |
