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Geron Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results and 2020 Milestones
Conference Call Scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET today MENLO PARK, Calif., March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a late-stage
About this update from Geron Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"Conference Call Scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET today\nMENLO PARK, Calif., March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, to treat hematologic myeloid malignancies, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 as well as 2020 milestones. The Company ended fiscal year 2019 with $159.2 million in cash and marketable securities.\n “2019 was a pivotal year for Geron as we completed the imetelstat program transition, assembled an impressive in-house team with a proven track record in drug development, and advanced imetelstat into late-stage development with the opening of our IMerge Phase 3 clinical trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes,” said John A. Scarlett, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In 2020, we plan to complete enrollment in IMerge, announce our decision regarding any potential late-stage development plans for myelofibrosis by mid-year, and commence a proof of concept study in additional hematologic myeloid malignancies. With a strong team in place to execute these plans, we look forward to further advancing the development of imetelstat.” Planned 2020 Milestones Geron is planning for the following milestones in 2020: Complete enrollment for the Phase 3 IMerge clinical trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) by the end of 2020Recently reported Phase 2 data continued to indicate meaningful and durable transfusion independence potentially achievable with imetelstat treatment in high transfusion burdened patients (> 4 units per 8 weeks). The Phase 3 IMerge clinical trial was opened for enrollment in August 2019, and the first patient was dosed in October 2019. As of the end of February 2020, 63% of planned clinical sites were opened for enrollment. Topline results are expected by mid-year 2022.Determine a potential registration strategy for imetelstat in myelofibrosis (MF)As a follow up to an End of Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2019, Geron plans to submit Phase 3 trial design proposals to the FDA and, in the second quarter, discuss with the FDA a potential regulatory approval path for imetelstat in MF. Geron expects to announce its decision regarding any potential la...