My end of year review of GERN
INTRO Here's my semi-annual exercise to see if I remember why I own the stocks I own, and so I can check back and see if their stories have changed. I post in case it helps others too.
Geron
GERN (market cap was $0.426B mid2016 is $0.329B EOY2016)
Geron is developing leading edge biotechnologies based on telomerase, a protein that helps control cell death. The drug is in clinical trials for treating "hematologic myeloid malignancies", which I translate as blood disorders. The potential is very large because controlling cell death has the potential to encourage cells to die on demand, thereby treating cancers; or convincing them not to destroy themselves, which can be an issue in auto-immune disorders.
They are in phase 2 clinical trials, but the data have underwhelmed the investment community.
At one time, the company had four major technologies in development. Now, they are down to one major technology. Diversification within a company is not a guarantee. The clinical trials continue, but I must admit that their past performance is affecting my expectations of their future performance. I am considering selling GERN to buy AST, which happens to be advancing one of Geron's other spun-off technologies.
DISCLOSURE LTBH since 1999 and continuing to hold (though I sold much, partly for diversification, partly to raise funds.)
(I've also collected links to the other discussion boards and my other stocks over on my blog trimbathcreative.wordpress.com |
