GERON CORPORATION
200 CONSTITUTION DRIVE
MENLO PARK, CA 94025
(415)476-7700
FAX (415)476-7750
Chief Executive: Ronald W. Eastman
Presenter: Richard T. Haiduck
COMPANY PROFILE
Founder: Michael D. West
Date Established: March, 1992
Legal Form: Corporation
Stage of Development: Pre-Clinical
CORPORATE OVERVIEW
Geron Corporation is the first biopharmaceutical company to focus
exclusively on the development of therapeutic (and diagnostic)
products for age-related diseases based on new molecular insights into
the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging. Age-related diseases,
such as cancer, atherosclerosis, senile dementia, and benign prostatic
hyperplasia are often extremely debilitating or terminal, with few
effective therapeutic modalities. The significance of these diseases
to the population and to health care costs is dramatic and increasing
rapidly. In fact, the over-85 population is expected to triple over
the next forty years, and increase sevenfold over the next sixty
years. Geron's approach to the treatment of age-related diseases
differs from traditional pharmaceutical intervention in that it has
targeted the fundamental molecular causes of these diseases, rather
than merely the symptoms.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Geron's ability to address a diversity of age-related disease states
is based on recent insights into the biological mechanisms of cellular
aging -- and conversely, into the process by which cancer cells escape
"aging" by becoming "immortal." Recent research indicates that aging
results, in large part, from genetic determinants that operate in all
dividing cells throughout the body. Geron and its collaborators have
pioneered the understanding of this genetic "clock" of cellular aging,
and believe that many diseases of aging are due primarily to
genetically programmed senescence of cells in the various bodily
tissues. At the opposite extreme, the age-related disease of cancer is
due to the failure of cells to senesce owing to mutations that confer
replicative immortality.
Discovery and Development Programs Geron's research and development
programs are based upon proprietary technology in two complementary
areas: Reversal of Cell Immortality (telomerase inhibition), and
Modulation of Cell Senescence (delay senescence and reverse senescent
gene expression). In each area the company has acquired or developed
proprietary approaches including patents, exclusive collaborations
with major academic groups (with licensing rights), and special
expertise.
GERON CORPORATION
Reversal of Cell Immortality
The Company's Telomerase Inhibition program is focused on converting
immortalized cancer cells into mortal cells which subsequently will
die. A telomerase inhibitor would cause the cancer cells to die,
typically after a relatively small number of additional replication
cycles. Normal tissues, which generally lack telomerase, should be
unaffected by such inhibitors. Telomerase inhibitors should therefore
be associated with few or no side effects, and yet be clinically
efficacious against most advanced cancers.
Modulation of Cell Senescence
Geron's Senescent Gene Expression program is directed toward
modulating cell senescence through two approaches:
Delay Cell Senescence
It should be possible to delay or reduce age-related pathology by
extending cell proliferation beyond the expected number of cell
divisions. Geron is designing proprietary assays and screens to
discover means to increase telomere length and hence increase the
replicative lifespan of cells.
Reverse Senescent Gene Expression
Regulation of senescent gene expression should overcome the negative
effects of senescent gene expression to treat age-related diseases.
Geron has developed and is applying a proprietary screen using unique
senescent markers to screen for compounds reversing senescence. In
addition, Geron has developed a high throughput genetic analysis
technique which already has enabled the Company to identify over forty
novel gene tags which are specific to either young or senescent genes.
These discoveries may lead to therapeutics which regulate or
compensate for a specific gene expression change, or means to
intervene with the overall regulatory mechanisms of senescent gene
expression.
While this broad-based platform technology can be applied to a variety
of age-related diseases, current efforts are directed toward cutaneous
aging and vascular disease.
CURRENT CORPORATE PARTNERS
None
POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES
Cutaneous skin aging
Vascular disease, including atherosclerosis
Management Team
Ronald W. Eastman: President and Chief Executive Officer, spent
fifteen years at American Cyanamid, most recently, as a vice president
and general manager of Lederle Laboratories.
Calvin Harley, Ph.D.: Vice President, Research, formerly served as a
member of Geron's scientific advisory board. Dr. Harley was on the
faculty at McMaster University, and is the discoverer of some of the
molecular pathways regulating cell aging and immortalization.
Richard T. Haiduck: Vice President, Corporate Development, brings to
Geron 17 years of health are management experience primarily with
Abbott Laboratories.
Jeryl L. Hilleman: Vice President, Finance and Administration, brings
both pharmaceutical and financial services experience, including Cytel
Corporation, Merck & Co., and Fidelity Investments.
Kevin R. Kaster: Vice President, Intellectual Properties and Chief
Patent Counsel, provides Geron with expertise in biotechnology patent
law, having extensive experience at Affymax, N.V., Cetus Corporation,
and Eli Lilly and Company.
Michael D. West, Ph.D.: Vice President, New Technology Discovery, is
the founder of Geron. His discoveries have contributed to the
understanding of the mechanisms by which cellular senescence leads to
numerous age-related pathologies.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Alexander E. Barkas, Chairman, General Partner of Kleiner Perkins
Caufield and Byers
Mr. Brian H. Dovey, General Partner of Domain Associates
Mr. Ronald W. Eastman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Geron
Mr. Charles M. Hartman, General Partner of CW Group
Mr. Thomas D. Kiley, Entrepreneur
Mr. Patrick F. Latterell, General Partner of Venrock Associates
Dr. Michael E. West, Founder and Vice President of Geron
SCIENTIFIC AND CLINICAL ADVISORY BOARD
Robert N. Butler, M.D., Mount Sinai Medical Center
Gunter K. Blobel, M.D., Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute and
Rockefeller University
Vincent J. Cristofalo, Ph.D., Medical College of Pennsylvania
Carol Greider, Ph.D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Douglas Hanahan, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
Leonard Hayflick, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
Thomas Maciag, Ph.D., American Red Cross and George Washington
University
Jerry Shay, Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern and Medical Center
at Dallas
James D. Watson, Ph.D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Woodring Wright, M.D., Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern and
Medical School at Dallas
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