Geron Presents Data on Human Embryonic Stem Cell-based Therapy for Heart Failure
*Someone was certainly 'ready' for that news. 108K in a New York second. No one can type that fast.
Cell Transplant Society Meeting
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2004--Geron
Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced today the presentation of studies
which show that functional cardiomyocytes can be differentiated from
human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Presented at the Cell Transplant
Society Meeting in Boston, Geron scientists reported substantial
improvements in differentiation methods and characterization of the
cells. The company also reported early engraftment results from
transplant studies in animal models.
In previous studies, Geron scientists and collaborators have shown
that cardiomyocytes can be differentiated from hESCs and will graft
into the left ventricular wall of normal healthy rats. The
cardiomyocytes integrated into the heart muscle and underwent limited
proliferation after injection.
In the newly presented work, Geron scientists described an
improved method to produce cardiomyocytes with higher purity and
maturity. The new protocol yields a cardiomyocyte population with a
20-fold increased expression of cardiomyocyte markers and greater than
65% purity. In collaboration with Dr. Charles Murry at the University
of Washington, the cells were transplanted into normal rat hearts.
Four weeks after transplant, the grafted cardiomyocytes had formed
islands of human myocardium within the rat heart. "In the animals,
this enriched cardiomyocyte population retained expression of normal
cardiomyocyte markers," stated Joseph Gold Ph.D., lead Geron author of
the work.
"This advance enables the next step, which is to transplant this
improved cardiomyocyte population into rodents with infarcted hearts
to demonstrate the utility of these cells to repair damaged heart
muscle," stated Jane S. Lebkowski Ph.D., Geron's senior vice president
of regenerative medicine.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and
commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for cancer based
on its telomerase technology, and cell-based therapeutics using its
human embryonic stem cell technology.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made
pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements in this press release regarding potential
applications of Geron's human embryonic stem cell technologies involve
risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent
in the development and commercialization of potential products,
reliance on collaborators, need for future capital and maintenance of
our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially
from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Additional information on potential factors that could affect our
results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to
time in Geron's periodic reports, including the quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.
--30--MER/sf*
CONTACT: Geron Corporation
David L. Greenwood, 650-473-7765
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA MASSACHUSETTS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT
TRADESHOW
SOURCE: Geron Corporation
Copyright Business Wire 2004
Nov-18-2004 20:00 GMT
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