The Geron Corporation of Menlo Park, California (Nasdaq: GERN) is a leader in cutting-edge biotechnology.

In addition to the discovery of TA-65, Geron is creating numerous disruptive technologies that might transform biomedicine. For an excellent source of information about them, go to GernTalk.

Geron knows telomerase

Geron holds hundreds of patents related to telomerase. In the area of telomere biology, it has no peers.

TAT-0002

Geron majority-owned subsidary, TA Therapeutics, is developing a telomerase activator, similar to TA-65, which has shown activity against HIV infection.

Neural Stem Cells (GRNOPC-1)

In February of 2009, Geron became the first company to be granted permission to proceed with clinical trials of embryonic stem cells. The FDA approved the trial to treat spinal cord injuries. One of the lead investigators, Dr. Hans Keirstead, explains the promise of stem cell therapies.

These purified and genetically stable cells are scalable and after proof of safety and efficacy is established, the potential indication for helping sufferers of neurogdegenerative diseases is significant. Those would include Lou Gehrig's Disease, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzeimer's, just to name a few.

Explanation of the animal experiments and actual video are available.

Other Stem Cells

GRNIC1 (Geron's Pancreatic islet stem cells) may cure insulin dependent diabetes.

GRNCM1 (Geron's Cardiac muscle stem cells) may replace damaged heart tissue.

Osteoblasts (Geron's bone-forming stem cells) to replace bone loss

Chondrocytes (Geron's cartilage-forming stem cells) to combat arthritis. The thoroughbred horseracing industry has already used autologous (self-derived) stem cells to recover injured animals.

Maintenance of ESC's

Geron, as the pioneer in telomerase research, developed many technoogies pertaining to the growth, differentiation, and maintenance of stem cells. They license these technologies to universities and companies alike.

Drug Testing

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Geron Bio-Med Ltd., Geron provides a flexible platform for new drug safety testing.

Animal Cloning

Geron is a major shareholder in ViaGen, the commercially-active provider of cloning and genomics for applied animal science (aka husbandry.)

Applications include specialized animal clones that are bred for desirable traits with respect to cost-effectiveness, performance, or nutritional considerations. Both the United States FDA and Japanese Food Safety Commission have affirmed the safety of consumption of beef and pork from cloned animals.

Through its interest in Start Licensing, now part of ViaGen, Geron has enabled pet cloning to become a reality through BioArts International.

In Vitro Meat Production

Although "unnatural" to eat meat not taken from a conscious being, "in vitro ribeye" might be the a more humane way to get our meat in the future. Many a true word hath been spoken in jest:

For those who equate natural with good; "The Black Plague," syphilis, and volcanic eruptions are all natural phenomena.

Cancer programs

GRN163L is a synthetic oligonucleotide comprised of 13 base pairs which was designed to bind the active site of the telomeric RNA. If the active site is is "gummed up" with GRN163L, then the purple 3' end of the telomere can't bind and be extended by 6 new base pairs at a time.

Because over 90% of cancers express telomerase, GRN163L is being tested in a variety of clinical trials against cancer:

Pharma partnerships

Roche Diagnostics

Roche Diagnostics (Roche) is licensed to sell telomerase detection assays for the research-use-only market.

Sienna Cancer Diagnostics

In 2007, Geron granted a license to Sienna Cancer Diagnostics, an Australian company, to develop and commercialize methods other than PCR and ELISA to detect telomerase for in vitro cancer diagnosis. Sienna's lead product in development is a non-invasive assay that utilizes Sienna's proprietary Telomerase Biosensor Technology (TBT) to detect telomerase activity in urine for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. In consideration for the license, Geron received an equity interest in Sienna and are entitled to receive royalties on future product sales.

Merck

In July 2005, Geron entered into a worldwide exclusive research, development and commercialization license agreement with Merck & Co. (Merck), Inc. for cancer vaccines targeting telomerase by methods other than dendritic cell delivery. In addition, Merck acquired an exclusive option to negotiate a separate agreement for our autologous dendritic cell-based telomerase vaccine. On December 31, 2007, Merck's option to Geron's dendritic cell-based vaccine technology expired and Geron retains all product rights for all indications using both autologous and hESC-derived dendritic cells. In December 2007, Merck filed an IND (investigational new drug application) with the FDA to initiate a clinical trial for their cancer vaccine candidate that targets telomerase. In 2008, Merck initiated a Phase I clinical trial of V934/V935, a non-dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine candidate targeting telomerase. The trial will assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in patients with solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer and prostate carcinoma.