Biotech Values

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Geron

>>I presume that MRK and Dr. Stephen Friend would have the inside track (#msg-7088215).<< (Dew - 2008)

From (#msg-7088215):
>>Getting back to the main point… if Dr. Friend thinks Geron’s telomerase science is as worthy an endeavor as he makes it sound in the bold-faced quotation above, perhaps GERN is a company with some bona fide investment appeal.<< (Dew - 2005)


Perhaps. But are you aware that Merck decided not to exercise its exclusive option to inlicense Geron's telomerase vaccine GRNVAC1? Essentially they paid $1M for a right of first refusal in 2005 and Geron pathetically extended it for free, but in the end Merck let it expire.

Merck is still working on using telomerase as an antigen along with their liposomal and adenoviral vaccine platforms, but it is interesting that they took a pass on Geron's vaccine.


Geron really looks pretty ugly these days. The dendritic cell-based telomerase vaccine was in some kind of haitus for 5 years and then clinical trials started over - in a different indication. (The CEO has talked about dumping it in favor of an off-the-shelf version using dendritic cells derived from ESCs - talk about combining untested technologies - telomerase, cancer vaccines AND dendritic cells derived from ESCs!) Their telomerase inhibition 'drug' GRN163L has generated a lot of AEs in clinical trial - but no evidence of efficacy or even telomerase inhibition. Their telomerase activator product for certain degenerative diseases didn't work out in preclinical and they are back to square one with that. And of course you know the recent news on their hoped-for first embryonic cell derived product, i.e. the clinical hold ...

All the more reason they should just sell out their great IP in telomerase, cloning and ESCs to the highest bidder.

Isn't 18 years and more than half a billion dollars burned enough?

They have revenues of ~$4M/year and are still only in Phase 1/2a trials! Their share count has gone up about a factor of 8 in the 12 years since their IPO and their stock price has gone down by 50%.

What a bunch of losers! But they could probably get a billion dollars if they sell their IP. What are they waiting for???

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