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Geron Announces Improved Production Method for Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Islet Cells

Posted on: Friday, 27 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced today the presentation of a new production protocol to differentiate islet cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for the treatment of diabetes. Presented at the Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Meeting in San Francisco by Dr. Anish Majumdar, Geron's Senior Director of Cell Therapy Research, the presentation described an improved method of deriving islet cells that secrete insulin and glucagon and express the appropriate set of genetic markers confirming them to be human islet cells. Moreover, the new production method generates islet-like clusters that contain proliferating precursors, which if isolated, could potentially enable the scalable production of hESC-derived islets.

Geron scientists and collaborators previously described animal studies using transplanted hESC-derived islet-like clusters made by an earlier, less efficient method that nevertheless i) significantly extended the life of diabetic animals and ii) produced both insulin and glucagon in vivo, generating detectable human insulin in the animal's bloodstream. Animal studies using islet cells made by the new method are currently in progress at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Geron's academic collaborators for the program.

"Nearly 200 million people worldwide have diabetes," said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron's president and chief executive officer. "Moreover, the incidence appears to be on the rise. Using cadaver-derived islets to treat insulin-requiring diabetics, our collaborators established proof of principle of cell-based therapies for the treatment of diabetes. The drawbacks of the cadaver-based approach are limitations of supply and product variation from donor to donor. As we improve our production method for hESC-derived islet cells and demonstrate their utility in animal models of diabetes, we take an important step toward the clinic."

Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing three groups of products: i) therapeutic products for oncology that target telomerase; ii) pharmaceuticals that activate telomerase in tissues impacted by senescence, injury or degenerative disease; and iii) cell-based therapies derived from its human embryonic stem cell platform for applications in multiple chronic diseases.

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 potential applications of Geron's human embryonic stem cell technology constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. 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 September 30, 2005.

Source: Business Wire

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