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Biotech / Medical : Geron Corp.
GERN 4.255+3.5%3:59 PM EST

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From: Savant9/10/2012 12:59:47 PM
   of 3566
 
Out of the blue....Geron Ends Study of Imetelstat for Breast Cancer; Cites Shorter Survival Period

Last Update: 9/10/2012 8:02:38 AM

By Melodie Warner

Geron Corp. (GERN) is discontinuing its Phase 2 study of imetelstat in metastatic
HER2-negative breast cancer because the median progression-free survival was
shorter than the comparison treatment.

The biopharmaceutical company was evaluating imetelstat in combination with
chemotherapy drug paclitaxel and comparing it to paclitaxel alone.

Geron said the median progression-free survival was 6.2 months for patients
receiving imetelstat, compared with eight months for patients receiving
paclitaxel alone.

The company also said a scheduled periodic review by its internal safety
monitoring committee found a greater number of deaths in patients taking the
imetelstat treatment. Although the absolute number of deaths was higher, there
was no statistically significant difference in overall survival.

Based on these findings, Geron decided to discontinue the breast cancer trial.

The company will continue its Phase 2 study of imetelstat in advanced nonsmall
cell lung cancer. However, a separate interim analysis of the NSCLC study
suggested a modest trend of efficacy in favor of the imetelstat arm, indicating
the prespecified success criteria in this trial are unlikely to be met. As a
consequence, Geron said it is doubtful that it will take imetelstat forward into
Phase 3 development for NSCLC.

Geron said its plans for further development of imetelstat in two hematologic
malignancies--essential thrombocythemia and multiple myeloma--haven't been
impacted by these results.

Shares closed Friday at $2.90 and were halted in premarket trading. The stock is
up 96% since the beginning of the year.
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