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 is $0.272B was $0.263B)
Geron is an advanced biotech company primarily (solely?) developing a treatment for cancer based on managing telomeres, molecules at the end of chromosomes that manage cell life. Good luck deciphering oncological jargon, but as I understand it, the company is concentrating their efforts on applicable blood disorders.
While the company is proceeding through Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, the results haven’t generated much enthusiasm within the investing community. Except for a few spikes, the stock has steadily been declining for several years. The downside with biotechs is understandably near zero. The upside with GERN is significantly higher than treating blood disorders. Controlling cell life potentially impacts disorders that involve cells that forget to die (e.g. cancers) or cells that die too readily (e.g. auto-immune disorders). A proof of the technology, particularly FDA approval for even one disorder, would probably dramatically improve the stock price, and the lives of many patients (which is the more important success criterion.)
I continue to hold, partly out of habit, partly because they are in Phase 3 (which usually decreases risk) and at a low stock price (which suggests a significant reward).
DISCLOSURE LTBH since 1999 and continuing to hold. I might consider buying more, but will probably wait for substantial, quantitative results are made public - which would spark a spike that might price me out of the sale. Stay tuned.
(I've also collected links to the other discussion boards and my other stocks over on my blog trimbathcreative.wordpress.com ) |
