Geron Corp (GERN)

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Corning Incorporated Introduces New Synthemax™ Synthetic Surface to Enhance and Support Stem Cell Growth
Revolutionary Surface Demonstrates Continued Commitment to Delivering Products that Enable Advanced Drug Discovery Research

http://www.corning.com/news_center/news_releases/2010/2010030302.aspx

An excerpt:

CORNING, N.Y., March 03, 2010 – Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today introduced the Corning® Synthemax™ surface, a novel synthetic surface that supports the growth and differentiation of stem cells. The surface is being commercialized as a result of Corning’s ongoing collaboration with Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN). This development enables researchers to take the next step toward scalable and cost-effective manufacturing of stem cells for potential therapies in the treatment of degenerative diseases.

Data presented by Corning and Geron at the World Stem Cell Summit in Baltimore in September 2009 demonstrated multi-passage growth of multiple undifferentiated human stem cell lines and the subsequent differentiation of one of these cell lines into cardiomyocytes. This is the first time the differentiation has been demonstrated with the results presented on a synthetic surface. The growth and differentiation of stem cells on the Synthemax surface is robust and reproducible, an important condition for the large-scale production of cells and therapeutic development.

“The commercialization of the Synthemax surface is a clear proof point of the success of our collaboration with Geron,” said Dr. Jeff Mooney, director of commercial technology for Corning Life Sciences. “By leveraging our unique expertise in materials and surfaces, as well as Geron’s advanced therapeutic stem cell techniques, we have been able to develop what we believe is the first and only synthetic surface in the world to enable this level of stem cell growth and differentiation.”