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mainehiker

09/23/03 6:30 PM

#154259 RE: mainehiker #154256

zeev, added word "inhibitor in my post to you, kinda important
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libbyt

09/23/03 6:32 PM

#154260 RE: mainehiker #154256

GERN...

I just read your post on GERN. I have also followed this company for several years. This was from a post I made on GERN in 8/2001.


"IMO GERN is considered the leader in embryonic stem cell research. Their purchase of the Roslin Bio-Med will allow their continued research outside of the US if a complete stem cell ban is passed by Congress. I believe they bought Roslin for the "Dolly" technology, and their investment in Roslin IMO makes GERN one of the "survivors" in this area of research. If there is a complete ban on stem cell research in the U.S., probably many of the researchers in this area will move to England where the laws are favorable for stem cell research."

http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=16166461&s=gern

I would agree with your thoughts, that the refocus on the telomerase platform is what seems to hold the possibility of profitability for this company in the future. From the Yahoo web description of GERN: "The Company's product development programs are based on three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer. Telomerase is an enzyme that, when introduced into normal cells, is capable of restoring telomere length, consequently increasing the lifespan of cells without altering their normal function or causing them to become cancerous; human embryonic stem cells enable the development of transplantation therapies by providing standard starting material for the manufacture of cells and tissues, and nuclear transfer is used for the creation of cloned animals."


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lee kramer

09/23/03 6:33 PM

#154262 RE: mainehiker #154256

mainjehiker: I have not a single clue as to what you are talking about. Clearly, hopefully. YOU understand it. Me, I'll watch and trade the GERN chart.
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Zeev Hed

09/23/03 7:02 PM

#154266 RE: mainehiker #154256

I am not sure it is so simple, telomerase is actually an enzyme that either help resynthesis of telomere (dangling participles in the form of many TTAGGG sequences at the end of chromosomes, which after each cell division, get shortened), or prevent the clipping of such after cell division. Somehow, telomerase is present in most cancerous tissue (whether it is the cause or the effect, I don't think anyone knows). Telomerase inhibitors, theoretically could starve cancer cells of telomerase and thus allow the normal cell death cycle to be reinstated. Entermed tried another "cancer starving" trick with an enzyme that inhibit the growth of new bood vessels (without which cancer tissue dies), and the jury is still out on that one as well. I can see a lot of "ups and downs" as the story evolves. For instance, it is already known that telomerase inhibitors render men (maybe also women) infertile. What is not researched yet is how telomerase inhibitors affect other healthy tissue that require constant "rejuvenation" (like lining of the stomach and the gastro intestinal tract). I understand that many tissues reaction with telomerase inhibitors in vitro show no negative impact, but the in vivo tests is much more demanding.

Originally, Geron obtained patents on telomerase promoters (if memory serves, the name Geron was intended to reflect the company's charter to treat geriatrics, or lengthen life in general , and since lack of telomerase allows the clipping of telomeres at the end of chromosome in dividing cells, it puts a time limit , or number of divisions allowed, on such cell lines in the body, causing aging), to hopefully use such in life extension drugs. The problem with that is that we all have somewhere in our body some crazy cells that are misbehaving and could become cancerous, additional telomerase (or telomerase promoters) would enhance those lines, overwhelming the immune system that usually keeps such crazy cells in check, in healthy individuals. So that avenue of future success will have its ups and downs as well.

As for the third leg of GERN's technology, their work on stem cells, the politics around that is just too much for now. GERN would be wise to do a secondary here around $15/$20 share , maybe some 10 Mm shares to make sure they have enough cash for the next five years, they'll surely need it.

Good luck to all playing this game, we'll all need it....

In edit, I see additional posters clarified some, part of this post is thus redundant, sorry...