Geron Highlights ASCO/AACR Joint Session: Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer
MENLO PARK, Calif., Jun 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Geron Corporation (GERN)
highlights presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO)/American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Joint Session: Telomeres
and Telomerase in Cancer taking place today at the 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting in
Chicago, IL. The special session will be co-chaired by ASCO's outgoing president,
George W. Sledge, M.D., and Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., joint-winner of the
2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discoveries in the field of
telomere biology and telomerase, and a former Geron collaborator. The joint
session will begin at 9:45 a.m. CDT, and a webcast will be available for
conference registrants.
Presenting at the Joint Session will be Kathy D. Miller, M.D., Associate
Professor and Sheila D. Ward Scholar at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren
Simon Cancer Center and lead investigator of Geron's ongoing Phase 2 clinical
trial of the telomerase inhibitor drug, imetelstat, in patients with breast
cancer. The presentation is titled "The Clinical Perspective: Where We Are Going
with Telomeres and Telomerase". Dr. Miller was also the lead investigator of
Geron's Phase 1 clinical trial of imetelstat in breast cancer and presented data
from that study at the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting.
"Today's joint ASCO/AACR session once again highlights the importance of
telomerase as a target for developing novel cancer therapies," said Stephen M.
Kelsey, M.D., Geron's Executive Vice President, Head of Research & Development
and Chief Medical Officer. "We are immensely pleased with the expert advice and
enthusiasm shown by leading scientists and investigators, such as Kathy Miller,
with whom we work to develop imetelstat, our telomerase inhibitor."
Phase 2 Clinical Program for Imetelstat
Geron's Phase 2 clinical program for imetelstat includes four clinical trials --
two randomized clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer,
and two smaller single arm studies in multiple myeloma and essential
thrombocythemia. These trials focus on malignancies in which cancer stem cells
are believed to play an important role in disease progression and relapse after
standard therapy. For further information about clinical trials using imetelstat,
please visit clinicaltrials.gov.
About Imetelstat (GRN163L)
Imetelstat is a lipidated short chain oligonucleotide that binds with high
affinity and specificity to the catalytic site of telomerase, resulting in
competitive inhibition of enzyme activity. Proprietary manufacturing chemistry
and the addition of a 5' lipid chain have enabled the molecule to penetrate cells
and tissues throughout the body.
Imetelstat has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in a wide range of preclinical
xenograft models of human solid and hematological tumors, and potent activity
against cancer stem cells derived from primary patient samples or cancer cell
lines from multiple tumor types.
Imetelstat has been tested in six Geron-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trials at 22
U.S. medical centers, treating over 180 patients examining the safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug, alone or in
combination with other standard therapies, in patients with different
hematological and solid tumors. A Phase 2 clinical program was initiated in 2010.
About Telomerase
Telomerase is a critical and broadly applicable tumor target. The enzyme is
expressed in a wide range of malignant tumors, and its activity is essential for
the indefinite replicative capacity of cancer that enables malignant cell growth.
Telomerase is absent or expressed only transiently at low levels in most normal
adult tissues. Telomerase has now also been shown to be a target for cancer stem
cells. Cancer stem cells are rare populations of malignant cells with the
capacity for endless self-renewal found in many types of cancer and are believed
to be responsible for the growth, recurrence and metastasis of tumors. Their
resistance to chemotherapy and conventional anti-cancer agents make them
important targets for novel therapies.
About Geron
Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer
and chronic degenerative diseases. The company is advancing anti-cancer therapies
through multiple Phase 2 clinical trials in different cancers by targeting the
enzyme telomerase and with a compound designed to penetrate the blood-brain
barrier. The company is developing cell therapies from differentiated human
embryonic stem cells for a range of indications, with the first product in a
Phase 1 clinical trial for spinal cord injury. 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 oncology and telomerase technologies 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, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
SOURCE: Geron Corporation
Geron Corporation
Anna Krassowska, Ph.D.
Investor and Media Relations
650-473-7765
info@geron.com |
