K: This GERN news is BIG. M2
Wednesday June 21, 6:30 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Geron Announces Granting of Nuclear Transfer Patents
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2000--Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN - news) announced today the granting of two further U.K. patents covering nuclear transfer technology. Geron also announced the granting of additional nuclear transfer patents in other countries.
Geron acquired a substantial patent portfolio as part of its acquisition of Roslin Bio-Med, Ltd. in May 1999. The patent portfolio covers the pioneering nuclear transfer technologies developed at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland which were used to clone Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
In January of this year, Geron announced granted U.K. and allowed U.S. nuclear transfer patents that include claims to the specific forms of the donor nucleus (in the quiescent state) that have been shown to be particularly effective for nuclear transfer. The new patents focus on the recipient cell used in the nuclear transfer process.
The first newly granted U.K. patent, patent number GB2318792, has 32 claims covering methods of nuclear transfer in which the nucleus of a donor cell is transferred into an appropriate recipient egg cell, also known as an oocyte. The donor cell nucleus is kept in contact with the oocyte's cytoplasm for a time sufficient to reprogram the nucleus of the donor cell. The oocyte is then activated and development begins. The patent claims do not require the donor cell from which the transferred nucleus is obtained to be in a quiescent state.
The second newly granted U.K. patent, patent number GB2340493, has 30 claims directed to compositions of matter produced using this nuclear transfer method. This patent includes claims to cloned non-human animals made using the method, as well as non-human and human cell lines derived from the products of nuclear transfer. Both of these U.K. patents have a priority date of August 1995.
Geron has an active ongoing research collaboration with the Roslin Institute that focuses on nuclear transfer technologies and reprogramming. Reprogramming refers to the process through which an adult differentiated cell goes in order to change from being, for example, a skin cell, into a more basic form of cell that is capable of producing other cell types. Reprogramming of human cells, which can be achieved by the nuclear transfer process, is part of Geron's strategy for producing human cells and tissues in the laboratory for regenerative medicine. Notably, these new U.K. patents cover the application of nuclear transfer technology to human cells.
``Nuclear transfer technology should allow us to produce transplantable human cells and tissues that will not be rejected by the patient's immune system,'' noted Thomas Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron's president and chief executive officer. ``As a result, it may be possible to restore the function of, for example, a failing liver by injection of new liver cells made in the laboratory without the need for either a whole organ transplant or immunosuppressive drugs. These new patents further extend Geron's proprietary position in the regenerative medicine field, which is built on our three patented technology platforms: telomerase, pluripotent stem cells and nuclear transfer.''
Granting of Other Nuclear Transfer Patents
Geron also announced that patents for its nuclear transfer technologies have now been granted in New Zealand (patent numbers 316148 and 316149), Hong Kong (patent numbers 1004938B and 1019394B) and Singapore (patent numbers 9801330-3 and 9801334-5).
``Our nuclear transfer patent portfolio is now maturing into a substantial collection of issued patents around the world,'' commented David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., Geron's vice president of intellectual property. ``As well as adding to the proprietary position that underlies Geron's regenerative medicine program, these patents provide broad coverage for the use of the technology for animal cloning, and in particular the cloning of animals from adult cells. There is broad interest in animal cloning technology for both agricultural and medical applications, including the production of pharmaceuticals, tissues and organs for human use. Geron has a commanding intellectual property asset in this area, and will continue to pursue additional broad patent claims for this pioneering technology.''
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology, drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Geron's product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human pluripotent stem cells and nuclear transfer.
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 product development and future applications of Geron's technology constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products including nuclear transfer technology, maintenance of our intellectual property rights, our dependence on collaborative partners to perform their respective responsibilities, and the ethical, legal and social implications of our research using pluripotent stem cells and nuclear transfer which could prevent us from developing or gaining acceptance for commercially viable products in this area. 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 March 31, 2000.
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