Geron Announces Launch of GE Healthcare's Human Cardiomyocyte Product for Drug
Discovery and Toxicity Screening
Product Developed Under License and Alliance Agreement With Geron
MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct 05, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Geron Corporation (GERN)
today announced that GE Healthcare has launched the first human cellular assay
product for use in drug discovery and toxicity screening, developed under a
license and alliance agreement between the two companies.
This first commercially available product is human cardiomyocytes, or heart
muscle cells, for testing potential cardiac toxicity of candidate drug compounds
in development.
Assessing the effects of a drug candidate on heart function is an important and
universal step in drug development. Cardiac side effects are a common reason for
termination of late stage clinical trials or for drugs to be withdrawn from the
market. More accurate and earlier predictors of cardiac toxicities would
contribute to reduced drug development costs and minimize patient exposure to
potentially harmful compounds.
The cardiomyocytes for toxicity screening available from GE Healthcare are
derived from NIH-approved human embryonic stem cells. This technology platform
allows for the production of well-characterized master cell banks from which a
continuous supply of human cardiomyocytes can be manufactured without the use of
genetic modification. The GE Healthcare cell product has biochemical and
electrophysiological properties analogous to normal cardiomyocytes present in the
human body.
Comparative studies conducted by ChanTest, an acknowledged leader in ion channel
screening services, have demonstrated that GE Healthcare's cardiomyocytes show a
greater sensitivity to known ion channel blockers than current animal cell-based
assays, enabling more reliable and earlier assessment of potential human
toxicities in the development of pharmaceutical compounds.
For further information on the cardiomyocyte product please visit the GE
Healthcare website at gelifesciences.com.
The GE Healthcare press release is available at
genewscenter.com.
About Geron
Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer
and chronic degenerative diseases, including spinal cord injury, heart failure
and diabetes. The company is advancing an anti-cancer drug and a cancer vaccine
that target the enzyme telomerase through multiple clinical trials in different
cancers. For more information, visit geron.com.
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 statements in this press release regarding potential
applications of Geron's human embryonic stem cell technology constitute
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including,
without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of
potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals
or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and
protection 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 June
30, 2010.
SOURCE: Geron Corporation
Geron Corporation
Anna Krassowska, Ph.D., 650-473-7765
Investor and Media Relations
info@geron.com |
