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Biotech / Medical : Geron Corp. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: louis mason who wrote (965)	3/6/1998 2:37:00 PM
From: (no name provided)	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3576

I don't under this either. I thought GERN was an exclusive licensee of all this technology. It would appear that there exclusivity does not cover screening or even the rights to the compounds discovered by UT/BMY. Does anyone know? Kafka666

To: louis mason who wrote (965)	3/6/1998 11:05:00 PM
From: BulbaMan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3576

Geron has claimed on numerous occasions that its patents cover the use of telomerase inhibitors to treat cancer. Most recently, in its March 4th press release announcing "the issuance of eight new U.S. Patents, the allowance of 11 U.S. patent applications, and the filing of 10 U.S., six foreign national, and two international patent applications" relating to its telomere/telomerase technology, Geron declared: "For its telomerase inhibition program to treat cancer, a patent exclusively licensed to Geron and owned by UT (University of Texas) with claims for screening compounds that modulate telomere length recently issued. This screening technology is key for discovering and developing telomerase inhibitors to treat cancer and telomerase activators to treat other diseases of aging." So, if you believe Geron's claims are valid, which I do, then Bristol-Myers Squibb would have to pay Geron royalties on any telomerase inhibitor they commercialized. And nothing in the Bristol-Myers Squibb press release contradicts this eventuality. But, let's assume Geron's patents are less comprehensive than the company claims. The obvious negative implication is increased competition. But the fact that Bristol-Myers Squibb is spending money on a telomerase inhibitor research project also has positive implications for Geron by providing further credibility to the telomerase inhibition/cancer treatment theory. It may well be that both the Geron/Pharmacia & Upjohn team as well as the Bristol-Myers Squibb team will come up with effective telomerase inhibitors and each will produce substantial revenues. Remember, Agouron has done very well with its AIDS drug despite competing products. I've had too many family members and friends die of cancer. So, personally, I feel good about the Bristol-Myers Squibb telomerase inhibition program as it improves the chances for a breakthrough cancer treatment. And, as Geron shareholder, I expect to benefit financially as well -- but that's secondary.