Data Show Geron's Cell-Based Therapeutic for Spinal Cord Injury
Survives and Exhibits Remyelination for at Least Nine Months
Following Injection
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 7, 2007 - Geron Corporation
(Nasdaq:GERN) today announced that data show GRNOPC1, the company's
human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based therapeutic for spinal cord
injury, survives and exhibits durable and robust human remyelination
in spinal cord-injured rats for at least nine months following a
single injection.
Presented by Geron's Arjun Natesan, Ph.D., at the Society for
Neurosciences Annual Meeting in San Diego, the data also demonstrate
that GRNOPC1 does not amplify neuropathic pain or the reaction to
painful stimuli. This finding is in contrast to research that shows
many other cell types, when injected into the spinal cord, amplify
neuropathic pain, a common long-term complication of spinal cord
injury in man.
"These important results speak to both the long-term safety and
duration of effectiveness of GRNOPC1," said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D.,
M.D., Geron's president and CEO. "A comparison of the GRNOPC1-treated
rats at nine months after injection against untreated control rats
shows dramatic evidence of durable remyelination of intact rat axons
traversing the lesion. These results show that a single injection of
GRNOPC1 cells produces significant and persistent remyelination of
the damaged spinal cord."
Allodynia, a painful response to a stimulus that normally does not
elicit pain, was assessed on large numbers of GRNOPC1-treated and
untreated spinal cord-injured rats at three, six, and nine months
post-injury. Both mechanical and cold stimuli were repeatedly applied
at the injury site and on the paws by observers blinded to the
animals' treatment. Measurements included vocalization, attendance to
the stimulus site, and avoidance behaviors. GRNOPC1-treated animals
exhibited no increase in allodynia or neuropathic pain compared to
untreated spinal cord-injured animals at any time.
GRNOPC1 is an allogeneic population of cells containing
oligodendroglial progenitors that is intended for transplantation
into the lesion site of patients with spinal cord injury to induce
tissue repair. Geron's development plan for the product calls for the
filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration and, pending the agency's review,
initiation of human clinical trials in 2008.
Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the
treatment of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases, including
spinal cord injury, heart failure and diabetes. The company is
advancing an anti-cancer drug and a cancer vaccine that target the
enzyme telomerase through multiple clinical trials. Geron is also the
world leader in the development of human embryonic stem cell-based
therapeutics, with its spinal cord injury treatment anticipated to be
the first product to enter clinical development. For more
information, visit www.geron.com.
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
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, uncertainty of clinical
trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, 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, 2007.
Contact
Geron
David L. Greenwood, Chief Financial Officer, 650-473-7765
info@geron.com
or
Media and Investors:
Russo Partners LLC
David Schull, 858-717-2310
david.schull@
Tracey Milani, 619-814-3511
tracey.milani@
http://www.pharmali
articleid=490788&
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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