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To: Jane4IceCream who wrote (8674)11/5/1998 6:34:00 PM
From: NASDBULL  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 119973
 
GERN conference call with analysts.

CEO spoke of "near term commmercialization" (this is second hand)
messages.yahoo.com@m2.yahoo.com

Analysts are going to eat this up!!!

I think this is bigger than ENMD, but unfortunately don't think we will see $80/share tomorrow morning when we all get out of bed.

Maybe $11.50/share. LOL.

NASDBULL

P.S. Probably $20+/share!!! Ignore me, i'm just smoking the weed in that guy's backyard. Anyone see the NBC news yet?



To: Jane4IceCream who wrote (8674)11/5/1998 6:39:00 PM
From: NASDBULL  Respond to of 119973
 
Here is an excerpt from the GERON special report!!
geron.com

NASDBULL

Business Issues

Q. How is Geron involved in this breakthrough?

A. We have funded Dr. Thomson's research for three years and
collaborated with his lab on the characterization of the hES cells
he derived. Geron also has a worlwide license to this discovery.

Q. What evidence is there to support that there will
be any viable commercial uses based on this
discovery?

A. Several of the proposed hES cell-based therapeutic
applications have already been demonstrated in mice with
murine ES cells. Geron believes it is likely that these
technologies will be transferable with appropriate modifications.
We believe that results achieved in animals potentially can be
extended and developed into viable therapeutic strategies for
humans.

Furthermore, there are commercial applications of hES
technology that could be reduced to practice before the cells
become available for tissue transplantation. We expect to
collaborate with one or more genomics companies to identify
novel genes that could be used to generate therapeutic proteins to
help regenerate tissue in such conditions as spinal cord injury,
stroke, or heart attacks.

Also, cells derived from hES cells may also be commercialized
as a technology for use in drug screening, drug target
identification or even identifying teratogens (drugs that cause
fetal abnormalities) and therefore make the pharmaceutical
research and development process more efficient.

Q. What will Geron's sustainable advantage be in
competing with other stem cell companies?

A. Human embryonic stem cell technology fits in extremely well
with Geron's telomere and telomerase technology platform.
Geron and its collaborators have cloned the telomerase enzyme
and demonstrated its utility in immortalizing cells for potential
therapeutic applications. Telomerase gene transfer technology,
being developed by Geron, could be important for the
development of compatible, transplantable tissues derived from
hES cells that result in durable, long lasting grafts. Further, hES
cells are the earliest, most upstream pluripotential stem cells and
the only human stem cell thus far shown to self-renew in the
undifferentiated state. These characteristics provide unique
capabilities to these cells which, we believe, will likely translate
into technical and commercial competitive advantages.

Q. What about differentiated stem cells: are there
issued or pending patents on these later-stage cells
by other companies or institutions?

A. There are issued patents and pending patent applications on
later stage differentiated stem cells and non-primate embryonic
stem cells held by other companies or institutions. It is possible
that Geron may determine it advantageous to negotiate a license
certain of these technologies. However, the human embryonic
stem cell occurs developmentally upstream from all other stem
cells and a broad claim covering these cells has already been
allowed by the US patent office. Importantly, we will also
attempt to patent genetically engineered downstream cells
derived from hES cells. Geron will continue to aggressively
pursue worldwide protection for this technology and subsequent
related inventions.

Q. What about growth and differentiation factors:
does Geron need to license this technology?

A. Geron may need to in-license certain technologies to enable
the development of the full therapeutic potential of hES cells,
including certain vector technologies, genetic differentiation
technologies, and growth factors. We will attempt to accomplish
this via licensing agreements and other forms of partnerships.

Q. Isn't there a business risk that work in this field
will someday be prohibited by the government?

A. Geron Corporation believes that the potential benefits to
medicine we have described are enormously important. Geron,
and the scientific and medical communities, generally support
appropriate scientific and ethical guidelines for conducting
research in the field. All product applications will, as is the case
for all new therapeutics, be carefully evaluated by the FDA. We
anticipate that follow-on research and development from
breakthrough discoveries in science such as hES cells will
continue to be encouraged.

Q. Why should any one company be permitted to own
the rights to something as potentially important and
valuable as the hES cell?

A. hES cells that exist outside the body in culture are derived by
a specific and novel laboratory process, and do not exist in
nature, so are therefore patentable. Geron will continue to invest
in product development based on this discovery. Academic
researchers will also work with the cells to develop other
potential therapeutic uses for them.

 

Ethical/Social Issues

Q. Is it possible that using ES cells will eliminate or
reduce the need to rely on controversial methods of
research?

A. hES cells are expected to provide an immediate source of
material for the development of cells and tissues for application
in transplantation therapies. As such, hES cells could help
relieve the need to continually resource primary human
fetal-derived tissues.

Q. Who should control and regulate the use of this
technology?

A. The US Food and Drug Administration is the appropriate
regulatory body to supervise the clinical testing of all therapeutic
products derived from hES cell technology.

The company desires to take advantage of the "safe harbor"
provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Specifically, the company wishes to alert readers that the
matters discussed in this press release constitute
forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the
results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Additional information on potential factors that could affect the
company's results are included in the company's quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.

Contact::

Geron
Corporation
David
Greenwood
Chief Financial
Officer
650/473-7700
Media Inquiries
CLM
Communications
Carole Melis or
Mike Jackman
650/342-5686
Investor Inquiries
Burns McClellan
Lisa Burns or
John Nugent
212/213-0006

 

Note to Editors: To receive a copy of this paper,
contact Science's News and Information office at
(202) 326-6440. Further information on this
announcement and Geron Corporation can be
obtained at geron.com.