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Gute News von Geron !
Geron Reports On Pre-Clinical Studies for Three Product Candidates At 2002 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--April 9, 2002--
Studies Demonstrate Significant Anti-Tumor Activity Without Toxicity, Confirming Telomerase to be a Highly Promising Target for Effective Anti-Cancer Therapies
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported positive pre-clinical data from separate studies of three anti-cancer product candidates under development. These studies demonstrate significant and specific anti-tumor activity without toxicity for all three approaches. Together, these studies confirm the effectiveness of inhibiting or targeting telomerase in the treatment of cancer.
Geron`s portfolio of telomerase-based anti-cancer therapies, including GRN163, a highly potent and specific telomerase inhibitor; a telomerase promoter-driven oncolytic virus; and ex vivo and in vivo telomerase vaccines were among several key highlights featured from the over 70 telomerase-focused scientific papers and posters presented at this week`s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting held in San Francisco, California.
Telomerase is an enzyme that is absent in most normal cells and tissues; however, during tumor progression, telomerase is abnormally reactivated and expressed in all major cancer types. While telomerase does not cause cancer, the activation of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain telomere length and resist apoptosis (programmed cell death), thereby enabling unlimited cell growth and resistance to cytotoxic drugs.
"We are very encouraged by the data we have generated in these studies of our telomerase-based anti-cancer therapies. All three of our product development candidates show promise in pre-clinical studies. In addition, we are very pleased with the progress being made with our telomerase vaccine currently in Phase 1 human clinical trials at Duke and we are on track for our IND (Investigational New Drug) filing for GRN163 by the end of the year," said Tom Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., president and CEO at Geron. "We believe our knowledge and expertise in telomerase, combined with our comprehensive intellectual property estate, give us the advantage in developing telomerase as a highly specific and universal `engine` that will drive multiple successful anti-cancer therapies."
AACR Meeting highlights include:
-- Geron`s telomerase inhibitor, GRN163, inhibits growth of
subcutaneous human brain tumors in mice by 70-80 percent and
enters tumor cells when administered into the brains of rats.
Geron reported additional data from its three separate in vivo studies in human brain cancer, demonstrating reduction in tumor size by 70-80 percent in treated mice compared to control groups after short-term treatment with GRN163. Additionally, infusion of fluorescent GRN163 into rat brains demonstrated good uptake into the cancer cells in the absence of a lipid carrier. Dr. Dennis Deen, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery at University of California, San Francisco, presented the data at the AACR meeting.
In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (four to nine injections over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction (70-80 percent) compared to the control-treated animals. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared. Additionally, the results of the rat study demonstrate that GRN163 will have appropriate bioavailability for the treatment of human brain cancers.
An initial report of the in vivo studies featuring GRN163 was presented at the Society of Neuro-Oncology meeting held in November 2001.
-- Telomerase promotor-oncolytic virus induces significant
regression of liver and prostate cancer tumors in mice
following treatment.
Geron researchers conducted tests of its oncolytic virus in mice with pre-existing human liver and prostate cancer. At the end of the 70-day to 100-day period, 80-90 percent of the mice treated with only five intratumoral injections of the telomerase promotor-oncolytic virus (ad2p-hTERT-E1A) showed significant tumor regression. In 43 percent of liver cancer-bearing mice, tumors regressed completely and the mice remained tumor free for the full study duration (70 days). Similarly, 50 percent of prostate cancer-bearing mice became tumor free and remained so over a 100-day period. The surrounding normal cells remained unharmed, demonstrating the high level of specificity of the telomerase promoter in telomerase expressing cancer cells. No toxic effects were observed in the treated mice. Mice treated with a control non-replicating virus did not exhibit tumor regression -- their tumors continued to grow throughout the study.
These studies, taken together with other comprehensive tests done by Geron and various third parties, confirm that a "cancer killing" or "oncolytic" therapeutic virus, when controlled by the telomerase promoter, can effectively kill a wide variety of human cancer cell types and therefore could be used to treat many types of human cancers.
-- Direct, in vivo vaccination with a telomerase DNA therapeutic
vaccine produces a telomerase-specific cytotoxic T cell immune
response.
Geron scientists reported preliminary data from a third anti-cancer therapy approach -- ex vivo and in vivo telomerase therapeutic vaccines.
As with all vaccines, efficacy is dependent upon the antigen used to stimulate the immune response. In the ex vivo study, Geron scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of using telomerase DNA to generate an immune response in mice. In contrast to humans in whom telomerase is expressed primarily in cancers and only rarely in normal tissues, mice demonstrate telomerase activity in many of their normal cells, thereby making it more difficult to generate an immune response to mouse telomerase (mTERT) by vaccination. Geron scientists were successful in inducing an immune response to mTERT first by vaccinating mice with murine derived dendritic cells (DC) genetically modified to express the hTERT (human telomerase) or mTERT gene, separately and in combination.
This ex vivo approach generated a telomerase-specific immune response sufficient to cause the death of mouse tumor cells expressing mTERT, which culminated in significant inhibition of tumor growth in some of the vaccinated mice. These results demonstrate that telomerase vaccination can induce an anti-telomerase immune response that can recognize and kill tumor cells expressing the enzyme.
Also reported at the meeting, Dr. Johannes Vieweg and colleagues from Duke University showed that human dendritic cells transfected with native or a modified form of hTERT RNA were remarkably effective in vitro in stimulating a strong anti-telomerase immune response that was able to lyse human tumor cells.
Encouraged by the results of the ex vivo vaccination experiments, Geron scientists conducted a separate study demonstrating that an in vivo (direct) DNA vaccination is also able to generate a significant telomerase-specific immune response in mice.
The in vivo results suggest that direct methods of vaccination can also successfully induce an immune response against telomerase. This method of cancer immunization would be much simpler and less expensive than the ex vivo approach because it would eliminate the need for an individualized, patient-specific therapy based on cultured dendritic cells.
GERON`S ONCOLOGY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
GRN163 Telomerase Inhibitor
Developed by Geron scientists, GRN163 is a short-chain nucleic acid-like compound, known as an oligonucleotide, that acts as a telomerase template antagonist. This type of oligonucleotide is from a relatively new class of compounds with high potential for the treatment of disease and diagnostic applications. The compound binds tightly to the RNA template in the active site of telomerase, blocking activity of the enzyme. GRN163 is chemically modified to produce improved cellular uptake and biodistribution as well as resistance to degradation and enhanced binding affinity to telomerase. GRN163 inhibits purified telomerase at extremely low concentrations and does not inhibit other critical enzymes. This suggests that, unlike most other cancer therapies today, GRN163 may have little or no toxicity in normal (telomerase negative) tissue. Scale up synthesis plans and IND-enabling safety and efficacy animal studies are ongoing in support of an IND filing for GRN163 scheduled for late 2002.
Oncolytic Viruses
Geron`s oncolytic (cancer-killing) virus therapies utilize the telomerase promoter and an adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for the common cold. The telomerase promoter-driven oncolytic virus is engineered to selectively replicate in and kill targeted cancer cells expressing telomerase, leaving healthy normal tissues (that are telomerase negative) largely unharmed. The virus replicates until the cancer cell can no longer contain the virus and bursts. The tumor cell is destroyed and the newly created viruses spread to neighboring cancer cells, repeating the same lytic cycle. Telomerase-driven oncolytic viruses have the potential to treat many types of primary and metastatic cancers. Geron has granted a non-exclusive license to Genetic Therapy Inc. (GTI), a subsidiary of Novartis AG, to use the telomerase promoter technology in oncolytic virus-based products.
Therapeutic Vaccines
Geron`s therapeutic vaccine development program focuses on delivering telomerase to special immune cells called dendritic cells that instruct the immune system (T lymphocytes) to detect cells that express telomerase and kill them. This approach exploits the presence of telomerase in all major cancer types. A Phase 1 study in prostate cancer patients at Duke University Medical Center is currently underway using this ex vivo immunotherapy approach. Geron is also developing an in vivo therapeutic cancer vaccine using telomerase DNA. This is a direct method of immunizing cancer patients, developed to stimulate an immune response within the patient`s own body. The advantage of using a direct, in vivo vaccine is in eliminating the need for manipulating dendritic cells in culture, thereby enabling cost-effective and simple vaccination procedures to be potentially available for all cancer patients. Merix Bioscience and Dendreon Corporation hold licenses or options for incorporating the telomerase antigen into their respective ex vivo cancer vaccine procedures. Geron retains rights to the in vivo vaccine.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TELOMERASE
Geron`s telomerase-based oncology programs are supported by a broad intellectual property portfolio of over 56 issued or allowed U.S. patents, 44 granted foreign patents and over 182 patent applications pending around the world.
Issued U.S. patents include claims covering the cloned genes that encode the RNA component (hTR) and the catalytic protein component (hTERT) of human telomerase, as well as cells that are immortalized by expression of recombinant hTERT. Aspects of Geron`s oncology product development programs covered by issued and pending patent applications include cancer diagnostics based on detecting the expression of telomerase in cancer cells, the use of telomerase as a cancer vaccine, the use of the hTERT promoter in cancer-killing genes and viruses, and telomerase inhibitors for use as cancer therapeutics.
Geron also owns issued U.S. patents and/or pending patent applications directed to both small molecules and oligonucleotide template antagonist telomerase inhibitors, as well as particular nucleic acid chemistry developed at Geron.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron`s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation`s technology constitute forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron`s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
Additional information about the company can be obtained at http://www.geron.com.
CONTACT: Geron Corporation, Menlo Park
Laura Zobkiw, 650/473-7765 (Investor & Public Relations)
Copyright 2002, Business Wire. All of the releases provided by Business Wire are protected by copyright and other applicable laws, treaties and conventions. Information contained in the releases is furnished by Business Wire`s members, who are solely responsible for their content, accuracy and originality. All reproduction, other than for an individual user`s reference, is prohibited without prior written permission.
Geron Reports On Pre-Clinical Studies for Three Product Candidates At 2002 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--April 9, 2002--
Studies Demonstrate Significant Anti-Tumor Activity Without Toxicity, Confirming Telomerase to be a Highly Promising Target for Effective Anti-Cancer Therapies
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported positive pre-clinical data from separate studies of three anti-cancer product candidates under development. These studies demonstrate significant and specific anti-tumor activity without toxicity for all three approaches. Together, these studies confirm the effectiveness of inhibiting or targeting telomerase in the treatment of cancer.
Geron`s portfolio of telomerase-based anti-cancer therapies, including GRN163, a highly potent and specific telomerase inhibitor; a telomerase promoter-driven oncolytic virus; and ex vivo and in vivo telomerase vaccines were among several key highlights featured from the over 70 telomerase-focused scientific papers and posters presented at this week`s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting held in San Francisco, California.
Telomerase is an enzyme that is absent in most normal cells and tissues; however, during tumor progression, telomerase is abnormally reactivated and expressed in all major cancer types. While telomerase does not cause cancer, the activation of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain telomere length and resist apoptosis (programmed cell death), thereby enabling unlimited cell growth and resistance to cytotoxic drugs.
"We are very encouraged by the data we have generated in these studies of our telomerase-based anti-cancer therapies. All three of our product development candidates show promise in pre-clinical studies. In addition, we are very pleased with the progress being made with our telomerase vaccine currently in Phase 1 human clinical trials at Duke and we are on track for our IND (Investigational New Drug) filing for GRN163 by the end of the year," said Tom Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., president and CEO at Geron. "We believe our knowledge and expertise in telomerase, combined with our comprehensive intellectual property estate, give us the advantage in developing telomerase as a highly specific and universal `engine` that will drive multiple successful anti-cancer therapies."
AACR Meeting highlights include:
-- Geron`s telomerase inhibitor, GRN163, inhibits growth of
subcutaneous human brain tumors in mice by 70-80 percent and
enters tumor cells when administered into the brains of rats.
Geron reported additional data from its three separate in vivo studies in human brain cancer, demonstrating reduction in tumor size by 70-80 percent in treated mice compared to control groups after short-term treatment with GRN163. Additionally, infusion of fluorescent GRN163 into rat brains demonstrated good uptake into the cancer cells in the absence of a lipid carrier. Dr. Dennis Deen, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery at University of California, San Francisco, presented the data at the AACR meeting.
In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (four to nine injections over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction (70-80 percent) compared to the control-treated animals. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared. Additionally, the results of the rat study demonstrate that GRN163 will have appropriate bioavailability for the treatment of human brain cancers.
An initial report of the in vivo studies featuring GRN163 was presented at the Society of Neuro-Oncology meeting held in November 2001.
-- Telomerase promotor-oncolytic virus induces significant
regression of liver and prostate cancer tumors in mice
following treatment.
Geron researchers conducted tests of its oncolytic virus in mice with pre-existing human liver and prostate cancer. At the end of the 70-day to 100-day period, 80-90 percent of the mice treated with only five intratumoral injections of the telomerase promotor-oncolytic virus (ad2p-hTERT-E1A) showed significant tumor regression. In 43 percent of liver cancer-bearing mice, tumors regressed completely and the mice remained tumor free for the full study duration (70 days). Similarly, 50 percent of prostate cancer-bearing mice became tumor free and remained so over a 100-day period. The surrounding normal cells remained unharmed, demonstrating the high level of specificity of the telomerase promoter in telomerase expressing cancer cells. No toxic effects were observed in the treated mice. Mice treated with a control non-replicating virus did not exhibit tumor regression -- their tumors continued to grow throughout the study.
These studies, taken together with other comprehensive tests done by Geron and various third parties, confirm that a "cancer killing" or "oncolytic" therapeutic virus, when controlled by the telomerase promoter, can effectively kill a wide variety of human cancer cell types and therefore could be used to treat many types of human cancers.
-- Direct, in vivo vaccination with a telomerase DNA therapeutic
vaccine produces a telomerase-specific cytotoxic T cell immune
response.
Geron scientists reported preliminary data from a third anti-cancer therapy approach -- ex vivo and in vivo telomerase therapeutic vaccines.
As with all vaccines, efficacy is dependent upon the antigen used to stimulate the immune response. In the ex vivo study, Geron scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of using telomerase DNA to generate an immune response in mice. In contrast to humans in whom telomerase is expressed primarily in cancers and only rarely in normal tissues, mice demonstrate telomerase activity in many of their normal cells, thereby making it more difficult to generate an immune response to mouse telomerase (mTERT) by vaccination. Geron scientists were successful in inducing an immune response to mTERT first by vaccinating mice with murine derived dendritic cells (DC) genetically modified to express the hTERT (human telomerase) or mTERT gene, separately and in combination.
This ex vivo approach generated a telomerase-specific immune response sufficient to cause the death of mouse tumor cells expressing mTERT, which culminated in significant inhibition of tumor growth in some of the vaccinated mice. These results demonstrate that telomerase vaccination can induce an anti-telomerase immune response that can recognize and kill tumor cells expressing the enzyme.
Also reported at the meeting, Dr. Johannes Vieweg and colleagues from Duke University showed that human dendritic cells transfected with native or a modified form of hTERT RNA were remarkably effective in vitro in stimulating a strong anti-telomerase immune response that was able to lyse human tumor cells.
Encouraged by the results of the ex vivo vaccination experiments, Geron scientists conducted a separate study demonstrating that an in vivo (direct) DNA vaccination is also able to generate a significant telomerase-specific immune response in mice.
The in vivo results suggest that direct methods of vaccination can also successfully induce an immune response against telomerase. This method of cancer immunization would be much simpler and less expensive than the ex vivo approach because it would eliminate the need for an individualized, patient-specific therapy based on cultured dendritic cells.
GERON`S ONCOLOGY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
GRN163 Telomerase Inhibitor
Developed by Geron scientists, GRN163 is a short-chain nucleic acid-like compound, known as an oligonucleotide, that acts as a telomerase template antagonist. This type of oligonucleotide is from a relatively new class of compounds with high potential for the treatment of disease and diagnostic applications. The compound binds tightly to the RNA template in the active site of telomerase, blocking activity of the enzyme. GRN163 is chemically modified to produce improved cellular uptake and biodistribution as well as resistance to degradation and enhanced binding affinity to telomerase. GRN163 inhibits purified telomerase at extremely low concentrations and does not inhibit other critical enzymes. This suggests that, unlike most other cancer therapies today, GRN163 may have little or no toxicity in normal (telomerase negative) tissue. Scale up synthesis plans and IND-enabling safety and efficacy animal studies are ongoing in support of an IND filing for GRN163 scheduled for late 2002.
Oncolytic Viruses
Geron`s oncolytic (cancer-killing) virus therapies utilize the telomerase promoter and an adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for the common cold. The telomerase promoter-driven oncolytic virus is engineered to selectively replicate in and kill targeted cancer cells expressing telomerase, leaving healthy normal tissues (that are telomerase negative) largely unharmed. The virus replicates until the cancer cell can no longer contain the virus and bursts. The tumor cell is destroyed and the newly created viruses spread to neighboring cancer cells, repeating the same lytic cycle. Telomerase-driven oncolytic viruses have the potential to treat many types of primary and metastatic cancers. Geron has granted a non-exclusive license to Genetic Therapy Inc. (GTI), a subsidiary of Novartis AG, to use the telomerase promoter technology in oncolytic virus-based products.
Therapeutic Vaccines
Geron`s therapeutic vaccine development program focuses on delivering telomerase to special immune cells called dendritic cells that instruct the immune system (T lymphocytes) to detect cells that express telomerase and kill them. This approach exploits the presence of telomerase in all major cancer types. A Phase 1 study in prostate cancer patients at Duke University Medical Center is currently underway using this ex vivo immunotherapy approach. Geron is also developing an in vivo therapeutic cancer vaccine using telomerase DNA. This is a direct method of immunizing cancer patients, developed to stimulate an immune response within the patient`s own body. The advantage of using a direct, in vivo vaccine is in eliminating the need for manipulating dendritic cells in culture, thereby enabling cost-effective and simple vaccination procedures to be potentially available for all cancer patients. Merix Bioscience and Dendreon Corporation hold licenses or options for incorporating the telomerase antigen into their respective ex vivo cancer vaccine procedures. Geron retains rights to the in vivo vaccine.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TELOMERASE
Geron`s telomerase-based oncology programs are supported by a broad intellectual property portfolio of over 56 issued or allowed U.S. patents, 44 granted foreign patents and over 182 patent applications pending around the world.
Issued U.S. patents include claims covering the cloned genes that encode the RNA component (hTR) and the catalytic protein component (hTERT) of human telomerase, as well as cells that are immortalized by expression of recombinant hTERT. Aspects of Geron`s oncology product development programs covered by issued and pending patent applications include cancer diagnostics based on detecting the expression of telomerase in cancer cells, the use of telomerase as a cancer vaccine, the use of the hTERT promoter in cancer-killing genes and viruses, and telomerase inhibitors for use as cancer therapeutics.
Geron also owns issued U.S. patents and/or pending patent applications directed to both small molecules and oligonucleotide template antagonist telomerase inhibitors, as well as particular nucleic acid chemistry developed at Geron.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron`s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation`s technology constitute forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron`s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
Additional information about the company can be obtained at http://www.geron.com.
CONTACT: Geron Corporation, Menlo Park
Laura Zobkiw, 650/473-7765 (Investor & Public Relations)
Copyright 2002, Business Wire. All of the releases provided by Business Wire are protected by copyright and other applicable laws, treaties and conventions. Information contained in the releases is furnished by Business Wire`s members, who are solely responsible for their content, accuracy and originality. All reproduction, other than for an individual user`s reference, is prohibited without prior written permission.
Hallo,
hier kurze Zusammenfassung und Bewertung der obigen News auf deutsch aus Hornblower BioStocks Daily vom 10.04.02
Geron (GERN; 902213) konnte gestern gegen den Markt nach oben laufen (s.o.), nachdem das Unternehmen erfreuliche Testergebnisse aus präklinischen Studien mit drei seiner Wirkstoffkandidaten veröffentlichte. Demnach konnte das Tumorwachstum in Mäusen gehemmt werden, ohne dass es zu Toxizitätsproblemen kam. Auch wenn es sich noch um ein sehr frühes Stadium in der Medikamentenentwicklung handelt, so sind die Ergebnisse als sehr positiv zu werten. Geron belegt damit einmal mehr, dass es sich bei den sogenannten Telomerase-Inhibitoren – alle drei Kandidaten gehören zu dieser Klasse von Medikamenten – um einen viel versprechenden und innovativen Ansatz bei der Tumortherapie handelt.
Geron gelang mit einem Tagesplus von 11,08% auf 8,32 USD vorerst der Durchbruch seines Abwärtstrend.
MfG Moorhenne
hier kurze Zusammenfassung und Bewertung der obigen News auf deutsch aus Hornblower BioStocks Daily vom 10.04.02
Geron (GERN; 902213) konnte gestern gegen den Markt nach oben laufen (s.o.), nachdem das Unternehmen erfreuliche Testergebnisse aus präklinischen Studien mit drei seiner Wirkstoffkandidaten veröffentlichte. Demnach konnte das Tumorwachstum in Mäusen gehemmt werden, ohne dass es zu Toxizitätsproblemen kam. Auch wenn es sich noch um ein sehr frühes Stadium in der Medikamentenentwicklung handelt, so sind die Ergebnisse als sehr positiv zu werten. Geron belegt damit einmal mehr, dass es sich bei den sogenannten Telomerase-Inhibitoren – alle drei Kandidaten gehören zu dieser Klasse von Medikamenten – um einen viel versprechenden und innovativen Ansatz bei der Tumortherapie handelt.
Geron gelang mit einem Tagesplus von 11,08% auf 8,32 USD vorerst der Durchbruch seines Abwärtstrend.
MfG Moorhenne
Was ist los?!?
GERON hat gestern ja richtig Fahrt aufgenommen.
KMS
GERON hat gestern ja richtig Fahrt aufgenommen.
KMS
@KMS
Ja, aber in die falsche Richtung! Warum eigentlich?
Gruss sahei
Ja, aber in die falsche Richtung! Warum eigentlich?
Gruss sahei
Hallo zusammen!
@ sahei
Warum der Kurs in den letzten Tagen so verstärkt die Fahrt Richtung Süden aufgenommen hat, liegt glaube ich an den zahlen, die rausgekommen sind. War wohl nicht nach dem Geschmack der Anleger.
Nur, was erwartet der Anleger, der in ein Unternehmen investiert, das erst in ein paar Jahren nennenswerte Umsätze und Gewinne einfahren wird. Geron ist reine Zukunftsmusik, in meinen Augen allerdings sehr vielversprechende.
Ich hatte in irgendeiner anderen Diskussion mal kurz die Bereiche vorgestellt, in denen Geron tätig ist. Kann ich gerne mal wiederholen, heute allerdings nicht. Nur soviel: Geron als reines Stammzellenunternehmen hinzustellen, da würde man es sich zu einfach machen.
Ich finde Geron in höchstem Maße interessant, weiß aber auch noch nicht ganz genau wie ich mich verhalten soll. Ich bin noch nicht investiert, wie schon gesagt, es dauert wahrscheinlich ein paar Jahre, bis sich ein Engagement auszahlt. Und was passiert in der Zwischenzeit? Wie oft wird Geron neues Geld brauchen, wieviele Produkte, die sich jetzt noch in den vorklinischen Studien befinden, fallen durch? Alles Stolpersteine, die dem Kurs nicht besonders gut tun sollten.
Auf der anderen Seite: Jeder erfolgreiche Schritt, jeder kleine Beweis, dass Gerons Ansatz und Strategie richtig ist, wird sehr wahrscheinlich mit steigenden Kursen honoriert. Und die letzten Meldungen in dieser Hinsicht waren ja sehr positiv. (Überspitzt formuliert: Läuft alles glatt kann sich Geron sehr langfristig zu einem Blue Chip entwickeln.)
Welche Strategie kann man also fahren, was ein kleines Investment angeht? Ich weiß nicht, vielleicht über mehrere Monate oder gar Jahre (je nach Entwicklung) immer wieder kleinere Postionen kaufen. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt ist das aktuelle Kursniveau vielleicht ein kleines Einstiegspaket wert.
Naja, nur eine Meinung.
Gruß, Greenhorn
@ sahei
Warum der Kurs in den letzten Tagen so verstärkt die Fahrt Richtung Süden aufgenommen hat, liegt glaube ich an den zahlen, die rausgekommen sind. War wohl nicht nach dem Geschmack der Anleger.
Nur, was erwartet der Anleger, der in ein Unternehmen investiert, das erst in ein paar Jahren nennenswerte Umsätze und Gewinne einfahren wird. Geron ist reine Zukunftsmusik, in meinen Augen allerdings sehr vielversprechende.
Ich hatte in irgendeiner anderen Diskussion mal kurz die Bereiche vorgestellt, in denen Geron tätig ist. Kann ich gerne mal wiederholen, heute allerdings nicht. Nur soviel: Geron als reines Stammzellenunternehmen hinzustellen, da würde man es sich zu einfach machen.
Ich finde Geron in höchstem Maße interessant, weiß aber auch noch nicht ganz genau wie ich mich verhalten soll. Ich bin noch nicht investiert, wie schon gesagt, es dauert wahrscheinlich ein paar Jahre, bis sich ein Engagement auszahlt. Und was passiert in der Zwischenzeit? Wie oft wird Geron neues Geld brauchen, wieviele Produkte, die sich jetzt noch in den vorklinischen Studien befinden, fallen durch? Alles Stolpersteine, die dem Kurs nicht besonders gut tun sollten.
Auf der anderen Seite: Jeder erfolgreiche Schritt, jeder kleine Beweis, dass Gerons Ansatz und Strategie richtig ist, wird sehr wahrscheinlich mit steigenden Kursen honoriert. Und die letzten Meldungen in dieser Hinsicht waren ja sehr positiv. (Überspitzt formuliert: Läuft alles glatt kann sich Geron sehr langfristig zu einem Blue Chip entwickeln.)
Welche Strategie kann man also fahren, was ein kleines Investment angeht? Ich weiß nicht, vielleicht über mehrere Monate oder gar Jahre (je nach Entwicklung) immer wieder kleinere Postionen kaufen. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt ist das aktuelle Kursniveau vielleicht ein kleines Einstiegspaket wert.
Naja, nur eine Meinung.
Gruß, Greenhorn
Trading Spotlight
@ greenhorn
Kannst du noch ´mal die Tätigkeitsfelder von Geron zusammenfassen? Wäre dir sehr dankbar. Vielleicht ist jetzt tatsächlich der Zeitpunkt zum Verbilligen gekommen.
Gruss sahei
Kannst du noch ´mal die Tätigkeitsfelder von Geron zusammenfassen? Wäre dir sehr dankbar. Vielleicht ist jetzt tatsächlich der Zeitpunkt zum Verbilligen gekommen.
Gruss sahei
Hallo sahei!
Ich werde mir Mühe geben, wobei ich vorausschicken möchte, dass ich natürlich alles andere als ein Experte bin.
Aaalso: Geron konzentriert sich bei seinen biotechnologischen Forschungen auf drei Kerntechnologien: Telomerasetherapie, humane Stammzellenforschung und Nuclear-Transfer-Technologie.
Das Unternehmen hat sich auf die Untersuchung von altersbedingten Krankheiten spezialisiert, wie z.B. Osteoporose, Artheriosklerose, Hautalterungen und Alzheimer. Und natürlich spielt Krebs eine ganz zentrale Rolle bei den Forschungsaktivitäten.
Hauptaugenmerk gilt dabei den Telomeren. Das sind DNA-Abschnitte, die an den Enden der Chromosomen sitzen. Bei der Zellteilung werden diese Enden kürzer, was eine vorzeitige Alterung der Zellen und deren Tod zur Folge hat. Geron möchte diesen Prozess stoppen, Hoffnungsträger ist das Enzym Telomerase. Telomerase verhindert eine Alterung der Zellen. Bei Krankheiten wie Hautalterungen oder dergleichen könnte das Enzym den Prozess verlangsamen, vielleicht sogar ganz stoppen.
Und natürlich gibt es auch die entgegengesetzte Anwendungsmöglichkeit: die Zerstörung oder Inaktivierung der Telomerase in Krebszellen. Für mich einer der interessantesten Heilungsansätze (wenn das Wort überhaupt in den Mund nehmen darf) oder Forschungsansätze für Krebs.
Das zweite Feld, in dem sich Geron bewegt, ist der Bereich der embryonalen Stammzellen. Bei Stammzellen handelt es sich um noch unbestimmte Zellen, die sich zu jedem Gewebe entwickeln können. Mögliche Einsatzgebiete: Diabetes und alle neurodegenerativen Krankheiten wie Alzheimer oder Parkinson.
Auch die Telomerase spielt mit in diesen Bereich hinein, 1994 gelang es Forschern von Geron die RNA-Komponente des Enzyms zu klonen, 1997 auch die Proteinkomponente. Beides ist patentiert. Ebenfalls 1997 gelang es dem Unternehmen ein funktionsfähiges Enzym aus beiden Teilen zu erstellen.
Was den dritten Bereich angeht, die Nuclear-Transfer-Technologie, dazu kann ich gar nichts sagen.
Das war`s. Natürlich ist das alles nicht auf meinem Mist gewachsen, habe ich mir via Internet zusammengesucht.
Wie gesagt, es stellt sich die Frage, wie man an ein Investment in Geron herangeht. Es gibt so viele Stolpersteine. Alle Produkte befinden sich in sehr frühen oder sogar vorklinischen Testphasen. Ans Geld verdienen ist in den nächsten Jahren gar nicht zu denken. Was passiert, wenn Produkte ausscheiden oder das Geld knapp wird?
Speziell im Stammzellenbereich gibt zudem moralisch-ethische Bedenken. Es ist nicht sicher, ob und wann Geron hier jemals öffentlichen und politischen Rückenwind bekommt.
Trotzdem (und das habe ich ja auch schon gesagt): Ich finde Geron hochinteressant. Die ersten Erfolge stellen sich ein, die letzten Meldungen waren ja allesamt positiv. Die Patentrechts-Situation ist fantastisch, wenn sich die dahinterstehenden Forschungsansätze als richtig und umsetzbar erweisen, dann....., keine Ahnung wo dann der Kurs steht.
Ich persönlich denke gerade über einen ersten kleinen Einstieg nach.
Was hälst du/ was haltet ihr von Geron?
Gruß, greenhorn
Ich werde mir Mühe geben, wobei ich vorausschicken möchte, dass ich natürlich alles andere als ein Experte bin.
Aaalso: Geron konzentriert sich bei seinen biotechnologischen Forschungen auf drei Kerntechnologien: Telomerasetherapie, humane Stammzellenforschung und Nuclear-Transfer-Technologie.
Das Unternehmen hat sich auf die Untersuchung von altersbedingten Krankheiten spezialisiert, wie z.B. Osteoporose, Artheriosklerose, Hautalterungen und Alzheimer. Und natürlich spielt Krebs eine ganz zentrale Rolle bei den Forschungsaktivitäten.
Hauptaugenmerk gilt dabei den Telomeren. Das sind DNA-Abschnitte, die an den Enden der Chromosomen sitzen. Bei der Zellteilung werden diese Enden kürzer, was eine vorzeitige Alterung der Zellen und deren Tod zur Folge hat. Geron möchte diesen Prozess stoppen, Hoffnungsträger ist das Enzym Telomerase. Telomerase verhindert eine Alterung der Zellen. Bei Krankheiten wie Hautalterungen oder dergleichen könnte das Enzym den Prozess verlangsamen, vielleicht sogar ganz stoppen.
Und natürlich gibt es auch die entgegengesetzte Anwendungsmöglichkeit: die Zerstörung oder Inaktivierung der Telomerase in Krebszellen. Für mich einer der interessantesten Heilungsansätze (wenn das Wort überhaupt in den Mund nehmen darf) oder Forschungsansätze für Krebs.
Das zweite Feld, in dem sich Geron bewegt, ist der Bereich der embryonalen Stammzellen. Bei Stammzellen handelt es sich um noch unbestimmte Zellen, die sich zu jedem Gewebe entwickeln können. Mögliche Einsatzgebiete: Diabetes und alle neurodegenerativen Krankheiten wie Alzheimer oder Parkinson.
Auch die Telomerase spielt mit in diesen Bereich hinein, 1994 gelang es Forschern von Geron die RNA-Komponente des Enzyms zu klonen, 1997 auch die Proteinkomponente. Beides ist patentiert. Ebenfalls 1997 gelang es dem Unternehmen ein funktionsfähiges Enzym aus beiden Teilen zu erstellen.
Was den dritten Bereich angeht, die Nuclear-Transfer-Technologie, dazu kann ich gar nichts sagen.
Das war`s. Natürlich ist das alles nicht auf meinem Mist gewachsen, habe ich mir via Internet zusammengesucht.
Wie gesagt, es stellt sich die Frage, wie man an ein Investment in Geron herangeht. Es gibt so viele Stolpersteine. Alle Produkte befinden sich in sehr frühen oder sogar vorklinischen Testphasen. Ans Geld verdienen ist in den nächsten Jahren gar nicht zu denken. Was passiert, wenn Produkte ausscheiden oder das Geld knapp wird?
Speziell im Stammzellenbereich gibt zudem moralisch-ethische Bedenken. Es ist nicht sicher, ob und wann Geron hier jemals öffentlichen und politischen Rückenwind bekommt.
Trotzdem (und das habe ich ja auch schon gesagt): Ich finde Geron hochinteressant. Die ersten Erfolge stellen sich ein, die letzten Meldungen waren ja allesamt positiv. Die Patentrechts-Situation ist fantastisch, wenn sich die dahinterstehenden Forschungsansätze als richtig und umsetzbar erweisen, dann....., keine Ahnung wo dann der Kurs steht.
Ich persönlich denke gerade über einen ersten kleinen Einstieg nach.
Was hälst du/ was haltet ihr von Geron?
Gruß, greenhorn
Ich bin der Meinung, dass Biotech auf jeden Fall ein Zunkunftsmarkt ist, aber man kann nie genau wissen, welche Aktien das Rennen machen! Ich beobachte Geron schon seit dem die damals bei 60$ standen! Bei 12$ wollte ich einsteigen, aber jetzt sind wir schon wieder so viel tiefer!
Ich bin in Aastrom und StemCells investiert! Geron habe ich auf meiner Watchlist!
Das Risiko ist eben, dass die mit embryonalen Stammzellen forschen, StemCells mit adulten Stammzellen! Bei Geron besteht eine sehr große Chance, sollte jedoch die embryonale Forschung verboten werden, sieht es sehr schlecht aus!
Ich würde noch abwarten, ca. 3 Monate und dann weiterschaun...
Gruss
Sugar
Ich bin in Aastrom und StemCells investiert! Geron habe ich auf meiner Watchlist!
Das Risiko ist eben, dass die mit embryonalen Stammzellen forschen, StemCells mit adulten Stammzellen! Bei Geron besteht eine sehr große Chance, sollte jedoch die embryonale Forschung verboten werden, sieht es sehr schlecht aus!
Ich würde noch abwarten, ca. 3 Monate und dann weiterschaun...
Gruss
Sugar
Hallo Zusammen, und mal wieder vielversprechende News von Geron !!!!!!!!
Geron and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Report On GRN163, an Inhibitor of Telomerase for the Treatment of Cancer
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--June 13, 2002--
Studies Demonstrate Significant Anti-tumor Activity Against Human Myeloma and Lymphoma Tumors in Mice; in Vivo Data Add to Growing Evidence of Telomerase Inhibition as a Potential Treatment for Cancer
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported new pre-clinical data on its telomerase inhibitor, GRN163, in two additional cancer types: multiple myeloma and lymphoma. The in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and presented at last week`s European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting in Florence, Italy. These studies, together with other pre-clinical studies of GRN163, demonstrate significant and specific anti-tumor activity and confirm the effectiveness of GRN163 in the treatment in over 13 different cancer types. Geron`s lead anti-cancer compound, GRN163, is a telomerase inhibitor that has shown safety and compelling efficacy in multiple, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies.
In September 1995, Geron Corporation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center entered into a research collaboration funded through the National Cancer Institute`s National Consortium Drug Discovery Grant (NCDDG) to develop a potent and safe telomerase inhibitor for the treatment of multiple types of cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reported data from several in vitro and in vivo studies of human lymphoma and myeloma (two forms of blood cancer). The in vitro studies confirmed that GRN163 effectively inhibited telomerase activity in the tumor cells and caused cancer cell death. The in vivo studies, in which human tumor cells were implanted in immunodeficient mice and then injected with GRN163 or a control, demonstrated that short-term treatment with GRN163 inhibited the growth of both tumor types. Dr. Malcom A. S. Moore, Department Head of Developmental Hematopoiesis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, presented the data at the European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting.
Two previous reports demonstrating efficacy of GRN163 in several in vivo studies of brain cancer were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2002 and the Society of Neuro-Oncology meeting held in November 2001.
An in-depth summary follows, highlighting Geron`s work on telomerase inhibition, recent scientific developments and clinical prospects of GRN163, which is expected to enter human clinical trials in early 2003.
A New Class of Anti-Cancer Compounds: Telomerase Inhibitors
A safe and effective telomerase inhibitor has the potential to treat all types of cancer. Cancer kills through uncontrolled tumor cell growth caused by genetic mutations. All types of cancer rely on telomerase to allow their uncontrolled growth to continue indefinitely, instead of stopping when the cancer cells` telomeres become critically short. If a promising drug -- such as GRN163 -- can effectively inhibit telomerase, it can cause tumors to stop growing and ultimately die.
The Role of Telomerase in Cancer
In the human body, cell division is an inherently limited process. Depending on the tissue type, cells generally divide only 60 to 100 times during the course of their normal lifespan.
This limitation operates through the progressive shortening of telomeres, the repeated "TTAGGG" sequence of DNA located at the ends of chromosomes in every cell. Telomeres protect chromosomes from degradation and fusion, like the plastic tip on the end of a shoelace. Each time a normal cell divides, its telomeres shorten. Once telomeres reach a certain short length, cell division halts and the cell enters a state known as "senescence."
For most cancers to attain life-threatening characteristics, such as growing rapidly or metastasizing throughout the body, the cancer cells must keep their telomeres from progressively shortening. The activation of the enzyme telomerase is the means by which cancer cells accomplish this. Telomerase is an enzyme composed of RNA (hTR -- human telomerase RNA) and a catalytic protein (hTERT -- human telomerase reverse transcriptase).
It maintains or increases telomere length and thereby increases the replicative lifespan of cells. Telomerase is not present or active in most normal cells and tissues, but it is activated during tumor progression. The presence of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain long enough telomeres to keep dividing and growing.
If the activity of telomerase in cancer cells can be inhibited effectively, the normal process of telomere shortening and resulting cell senescence or death would dispose of most cancer cells before they became life-threatening. Because all types of cancer rely on telomerase, and most normal cells do not, an effective telomerase inhibitor could potentially provide a safe and effective way to treat any type of cancer.
How GRN163 Works
GRN163 is a short, modified thiophosphoramidate oligonucleotide drug that acts as an inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of telomerase. More specifically, it is a telomerase template antagonist.
Oligonucleotides are organic compounds made up of of nucleotides linked together. They can be constructed to complement -- and therefore bind tightly to -- various sequences of RNA, which makes them useful as probes and also potentially very useful therapeutically. Most therapeutic oligonucleotides are 18-30 nucleotides in length, and they operate as "antisense" molecules: they bind to the messenger RNA of the targeted protein and induce its degradation, thereby blocking synthesis of the protein.
GRN163 does not use this antisense mechanism of action. In contrast, it binds to the active-site domain on hTR and blocks the enzymatic activity of hTERT. Thus, it acts as a classic enzyme inhibitor. The active site of hTR is the "template domain" which is complementary to the telomere TTAGGG DNA sequence. hTERT uses the template domain to encode the synthesis of telomeres. By binding tightly to the template domain of hTR, GRN163 blocks the enzymatic activity of telomerase.
Geron scientists have designed GRN163 to have significant advantages over earlier-generation oligonucleotide drug candidates reported elsewhere. The compound`s thiophosphoramidate chemistry gives it improved cellular uptake and biodistribution as well as resistance to degradation and enhanced binding affinity to telomerase. GRN163 inhibits purified telomerase at extremely low concentrations and appears not to inhibit other critical enzymes. This suggests that, unlike most other cancer therapies today, GRN163 should have little or no toxicity in normal (telomerase-negative) tissue.
Because GRN163 works like a small-molecule drug, interfering directly with the function of the telomerase enzyme, it can be much shorter than most antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. In fact, GRN163 is only 13 nucleotides long, and has a molecular weight of about 4000 Daltons.
GRN163 Results To-Date
In vitro testing: Geron and its collaborators so far have tested GRN163 in vitro on 13 different types of cancers, and demonstrated dramatic inhibition of telomerase activity in all of them. Continued treatment results in senescence and apoptosis (death) of the tumor cells, with the required duration of treatment proportional to the telomere length of the cancer cells. In contrast, a number of normal cell lines treated at higher concentration showed no toxicity.
In vivo testing: Geron and its collaborators have also tested GRN163 in animal models of human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer), prostate cancer, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (four to nine injections over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction (70-80 percent) compared to the control-treated animals. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared after this very short-term treatment. Additionally, two studies examined delivery of GRN163 into the brains of rats bearing human glioblastoma tumors, and demonstrated that GRN163 was taken up and retained by the tumor cells, indicating appropriate bioavailability (uptake into tumor cells) for the treatment of human brain cancer cells that have penetrated brain tissue.
Intellectual Property
Geron has broad proprietary rights covering GRN163 and the platform technologies underpinning this approach to treating cancer through telomerase inhibition. For example, Geron holds issued U.S. and overseas patents to the sequence of the hTR molecule and oligonucleotides derived from hTR, including GRN163, and the uses of such oligonucleotides to inhibit telomerase. Earlier this year Geron acquired patents and patent applications from Lynx Therapeutics covering oligonucleotides with phosphoramidate backbone linkages, and methods of synthesizing such oligonucleotides. More broadly, Geron has over 110 issued patents worldwide on various aspects of telomere biology, telomerase and telomerase inhibition and oligonucleotide chemistry, and more than 195 pending patent applications.
Clinical Development
Geron expects to complete pre-clinical toxicology studies by the fourth quarter of 2002, and then file an IND in support of a Phase 1 clinical trial. After FDA approval, the Phase 1 trial will be conducted at two or more cancer centers, and is likely to focus initially on glioblastoma. Geron expects to begin enrollment in the trial in early 2003.
In parallel with the initial Phase 1 trial, Geron is also developing a modified version of GRN163 that is designed to have better bioavailability in tumors other than brain cancer. Geron will test both versions of GRN163 against a number of different cancers in animal models, including liver cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and myeloma. With its collaborators, the company has already demonstrated efficacy after systemic administration of GRN163 (intravenous or intraperitoneal administration) in a prostate cancer model, and expects to publish these results later this year. Assuming continued success in those preclinical studies, Geron expects to test the compounds in human patients with additional cancer types following the initial clinical study in glioblastoma.
About Geron Corporation
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron`s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation`s technology constitute forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, need for regulatory approvals or clearances, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron`s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on March 31, 2002.
Additional information about the company can be obtained at http://www.geron.com.
CONTACT: Geron Corporation
Laura Zobkiw, 650/473-7765 (IR & PR)
Geron and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Report On GRN163, an Inhibitor of Telomerase for the Treatment of Cancer
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--June 13, 2002--
Studies Demonstrate Significant Anti-tumor Activity Against Human Myeloma and Lymphoma Tumors in Mice; in Vivo Data Add to Growing Evidence of Telomerase Inhibition as a Potential Treatment for Cancer
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported new pre-clinical data on its telomerase inhibitor, GRN163, in two additional cancer types: multiple myeloma and lymphoma. The in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and presented at last week`s European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting in Florence, Italy. These studies, together with other pre-clinical studies of GRN163, demonstrate significant and specific anti-tumor activity and confirm the effectiveness of GRN163 in the treatment in over 13 different cancer types. Geron`s lead anti-cancer compound, GRN163, is a telomerase inhibitor that has shown safety and compelling efficacy in multiple, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies.
In September 1995, Geron Corporation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center entered into a research collaboration funded through the National Cancer Institute`s National Consortium Drug Discovery Grant (NCDDG) to develop a potent and safe telomerase inhibitor for the treatment of multiple types of cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reported data from several in vitro and in vivo studies of human lymphoma and myeloma (two forms of blood cancer). The in vitro studies confirmed that GRN163 effectively inhibited telomerase activity in the tumor cells and caused cancer cell death. The in vivo studies, in which human tumor cells were implanted in immunodeficient mice and then injected with GRN163 or a control, demonstrated that short-term treatment with GRN163 inhibited the growth of both tumor types. Dr. Malcom A. S. Moore, Department Head of Developmental Hematopoiesis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, presented the data at the European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting.
Two previous reports demonstrating efficacy of GRN163 in several in vivo studies of brain cancer were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2002 and the Society of Neuro-Oncology meeting held in November 2001.
An in-depth summary follows, highlighting Geron`s work on telomerase inhibition, recent scientific developments and clinical prospects of GRN163, which is expected to enter human clinical trials in early 2003.
A New Class of Anti-Cancer Compounds: Telomerase Inhibitors
A safe and effective telomerase inhibitor has the potential to treat all types of cancer. Cancer kills through uncontrolled tumor cell growth caused by genetic mutations. All types of cancer rely on telomerase to allow their uncontrolled growth to continue indefinitely, instead of stopping when the cancer cells` telomeres become critically short. If a promising drug -- such as GRN163 -- can effectively inhibit telomerase, it can cause tumors to stop growing and ultimately die.
The Role of Telomerase in Cancer
In the human body, cell division is an inherently limited process. Depending on the tissue type, cells generally divide only 60 to 100 times during the course of their normal lifespan.
This limitation operates through the progressive shortening of telomeres, the repeated "TTAGGG" sequence of DNA located at the ends of chromosomes in every cell. Telomeres protect chromosomes from degradation and fusion, like the plastic tip on the end of a shoelace. Each time a normal cell divides, its telomeres shorten. Once telomeres reach a certain short length, cell division halts and the cell enters a state known as "senescence."
For most cancers to attain life-threatening characteristics, such as growing rapidly or metastasizing throughout the body, the cancer cells must keep their telomeres from progressively shortening. The activation of the enzyme telomerase is the means by which cancer cells accomplish this. Telomerase is an enzyme composed of RNA (hTR -- human telomerase RNA) and a catalytic protein (hTERT -- human telomerase reverse transcriptase).
It maintains or increases telomere length and thereby increases the replicative lifespan of cells. Telomerase is not present or active in most normal cells and tissues, but it is activated during tumor progression. The presence of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain long enough telomeres to keep dividing and growing.
If the activity of telomerase in cancer cells can be inhibited effectively, the normal process of telomere shortening and resulting cell senescence or death would dispose of most cancer cells before they became life-threatening. Because all types of cancer rely on telomerase, and most normal cells do not, an effective telomerase inhibitor could potentially provide a safe and effective way to treat any type of cancer.
How GRN163 Works
GRN163 is a short, modified thiophosphoramidate oligonucleotide drug that acts as an inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of telomerase. More specifically, it is a telomerase template antagonist.
Oligonucleotides are organic compounds made up of of nucleotides linked together. They can be constructed to complement -- and therefore bind tightly to -- various sequences of RNA, which makes them useful as probes and also potentially very useful therapeutically. Most therapeutic oligonucleotides are 18-30 nucleotides in length, and they operate as "antisense" molecules: they bind to the messenger RNA of the targeted protein and induce its degradation, thereby blocking synthesis of the protein.
GRN163 does not use this antisense mechanism of action. In contrast, it binds to the active-site domain on hTR and blocks the enzymatic activity of hTERT. Thus, it acts as a classic enzyme inhibitor. The active site of hTR is the "template domain" which is complementary to the telomere TTAGGG DNA sequence. hTERT uses the template domain to encode the synthesis of telomeres. By binding tightly to the template domain of hTR, GRN163 blocks the enzymatic activity of telomerase.
Geron scientists have designed GRN163 to have significant advantages over earlier-generation oligonucleotide drug candidates reported elsewhere. The compound`s thiophosphoramidate chemistry gives it improved cellular uptake and biodistribution as well as resistance to degradation and enhanced binding affinity to telomerase. GRN163 inhibits purified telomerase at extremely low concentrations and appears not to inhibit other critical enzymes. This suggests that, unlike most other cancer therapies today, GRN163 should have little or no toxicity in normal (telomerase-negative) tissue.
Because GRN163 works like a small-molecule drug, interfering directly with the function of the telomerase enzyme, it can be much shorter than most antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. In fact, GRN163 is only 13 nucleotides long, and has a molecular weight of about 4000 Daltons.
GRN163 Results To-Date
In vitro testing: Geron and its collaborators so far have tested GRN163 in vitro on 13 different types of cancers, and demonstrated dramatic inhibition of telomerase activity in all of them. Continued treatment results in senescence and apoptosis (death) of the tumor cells, with the required duration of treatment proportional to the telomere length of the cancer cells. In contrast, a number of normal cell lines treated at higher concentration showed no toxicity.
In vivo testing: Geron and its collaborators have also tested GRN163 in animal models of human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer), prostate cancer, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (four to nine injections over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction (70-80 percent) compared to the control-treated animals. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared after this very short-term treatment. Additionally, two studies examined delivery of GRN163 into the brains of rats bearing human glioblastoma tumors, and demonstrated that GRN163 was taken up and retained by the tumor cells, indicating appropriate bioavailability (uptake into tumor cells) for the treatment of human brain cancer cells that have penetrated brain tissue.
Intellectual Property
Geron has broad proprietary rights covering GRN163 and the platform technologies underpinning this approach to treating cancer through telomerase inhibition. For example, Geron holds issued U.S. and overseas patents to the sequence of the hTR molecule and oligonucleotides derived from hTR, including GRN163, and the uses of such oligonucleotides to inhibit telomerase. Earlier this year Geron acquired patents and patent applications from Lynx Therapeutics covering oligonucleotides with phosphoramidate backbone linkages, and methods of synthesizing such oligonucleotides. More broadly, Geron has over 110 issued patents worldwide on various aspects of telomere biology, telomerase and telomerase inhibition and oligonucleotide chemistry, and more than 195 pending patent applications.
Clinical Development
Geron expects to complete pre-clinical toxicology studies by the fourth quarter of 2002, and then file an IND in support of a Phase 1 clinical trial. After FDA approval, the Phase 1 trial will be conducted at two or more cancer centers, and is likely to focus initially on glioblastoma. Geron expects to begin enrollment in the trial in early 2003.
In parallel with the initial Phase 1 trial, Geron is also developing a modified version of GRN163 that is designed to have better bioavailability in tumors other than brain cancer. Geron will test both versions of GRN163 against a number of different cancers in animal models, including liver cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and myeloma. With its collaborators, the company has already demonstrated efficacy after systemic administration of GRN163 (intravenous or intraperitoneal administration) in a prostate cancer model, and expects to publish these results later this year. Assuming continued success in those preclinical studies, Geron expects to test the compounds in human patients with additional cancer types following the initial clinical study in glioblastoma.
About Geron Corporation
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron`s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation`s technology constitute forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, need for regulatory approvals or clearances, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron`s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on March 31, 2002.
Additional information about the company can be obtained at http://www.geron.com.
CONTACT: Geron Corporation
Laura Zobkiw, 650/473-7765 (IR & PR)
Hallo zusammen!
Schon wieder gute News! Wenn man euphorisch ist, könnte man meinen, der Ansatz, den Geron in Sachen Telomerase verfolgt, funktioniert tatsächlich. Sind wir aber natürlich nicht.
Dennoch: Ich überlege mir jetzt - nachdem sich der Kurs vielleicht ein bisschen wieder beruhigt hat - mir eine erste, ganz kleine Position anzuschaffen.
Gruß, greenhorn
Schon wieder gute News! Wenn man euphorisch ist, könnte man meinen, der Ansatz, den Geron in Sachen Telomerase verfolgt, funktioniert tatsächlich. Sind wir aber natürlich nicht.
Dennoch: Ich überlege mir jetzt - nachdem sich der Kurs vielleicht ein bisschen wieder beruhigt hat - mir eine erste, ganz kleine Position anzuschaffen.
Gruß, greenhorn
Hallo,
charttechnisch scheint Geron seinen Boden gefunden zu haben. An Gerons Patenten geht kein Weg vorbei. Bei den Kursen ist Geron ein Kaufkandidat für die Grossen, die etwas Neues brauchen. Trotz aller Pleiten in US sehe ich jetzt Chancen für Geron. Habe zum 1. Mal verbilligt.
Gruss sahei
charttechnisch scheint Geron seinen Boden gefunden zu haben. An Gerons Patenten geht kein Weg vorbei. Bei den Kursen ist Geron ein Kaufkandidat für die Grossen, die etwas Neues brauchen. Trotz aller Pleiten in US sehe ich jetzt Chancen für Geron. Habe zum 1. Mal verbilligt.
Gruss sahei
Hallo zusammen!
@ sahei
Fundamental bin ich auf jeden Fall deiner Meinung. Technisch muss man wahrscheinlich zugeben, dass Geron seinen Boden noch nicht gefunden hat. Schade, ich dachte auch bei 4 Euro wäre Schluss. Habe allerdings noch nicht gekauft, mein Urlaub kam mir dazwischen.
Wie siehst du, wie seht ihr die aktuelle Situation bei Geron? Schlechte Neuigkeiten hat es doch nicht gegeben, oder habe ich da etwas nicht mitbekommen? Geron bleibt eine der spannensten Geschichten der Biotech-Branche, aber man muss wirklich einen langen Atem haben.
Eure Meinung?
Gruß und gute Nacht,
greenhorn
@ sahei
Fundamental bin ich auf jeden Fall deiner Meinung. Technisch muss man wahrscheinlich zugeben, dass Geron seinen Boden noch nicht gefunden hat. Schade, ich dachte auch bei 4 Euro wäre Schluss. Habe allerdings noch nicht gekauft, mein Urlaub kam mir dazwischen.
Wie siehst du, wie seht ihr die aktuelle Situation bei Geron? Schlechte Neuigkeiten hat es doch nicht gegeben, oder habe ich da etwas nicht mitbekommen? Geron bleibt eine der spannensten Geschichten der Biotech-Branche, aber man muss wirklich einen langen Atem haben.
Eure Meinung?
Gruß und gute Nacht,
greenhorn
Hallo zusammen!
Heute gab es aus dem Hause Geron wieder sehr gute Neuigkeiten. Der Kurs kletterte daraufhin - zu Beginn des Handels in New York - um rund 15 %, die Gewinne konnten im Intradyverlauf gehalten werden.
GERON CORPORATION RECEIVES U.S. PATENT FOR TELOMERASE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
****************************
Menlo Park, CA — August 27, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced that it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 6,440,735, relating to telomerase-based cancer immunotherapy. Such therapies, which are currently being tested in Phase 1 human clinical trials, use telomerase to prime the patient’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
During tumor progression, the enzyme telomerase is abnormally reactivated and expressed in all major cancer types. The activation of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain telomere length and resist apoptosis (programmed cell death), enabling unlimited cell growth and resistance to cytotoxic drugs. Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of inhibiting or targeting telomerase in the treatment of cancer. In these studies, telomerase-based therapies have resulted in significant and specific killing of cancer cells without toxicity. Geron’s oncology development programs include products that either inhibit the telomerase enzyme directly (telomerase inhibitors) or, in the case of immunotherapy, direct the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells that contain telomerase.
In the immunotherapy approach protected by this new patent, antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, are isolated from the patient, and treated outside of the body (ex vivo) either with antigenic fragments of the telomerase protein, or with nucleic acids that direct production of the telomerase antigen in the cells. When the treated APCs are given back to the patient they recruit other components of the immune system (such as T-lymphocytes) to attack telomerase-positive cancer cells. Because this type of therapy works by stimulating the patient’s own immune system to attack the cancer, it is referred to as a “cancer vaccine”.
A Phase 1 study of Geron’s ex vivo telomerase vaccine is currently underway in patients with prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center. Additionally, a small Phase 1 study of an ex vivo telomerase peptide vaccine was just concluded at the Dana Farber Cancer Center, and a Phase 2 study of an in vivo telomerase peptide cancer vaccine is being conducted by the National Cancer Institute.
The new patent contains 22 claims covering various aspects of telomerase-based ex vivo cancer vaccines. The patent includes composition of matter claims covering APCs treated to trigger an anti-telomerase immune response, as well as method claims covering techniques for inducing an anti-telomerase response in patients using fragments of telomerase as small as six amino acids in length. “This is the first patent that specifically protects our telomerase vaccines,” noted David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., Geron’s vice president of intellectual property. “This important patent adds a new facet to Geron’s worldwide proprietary rights in the telomerase field, which include the telomerase catalytic protein, the telomerase RNA component, our GRN163 telomerase inhibitor drug, and methods of diagnosing cancer by measuring telomerase.”
“This patent protects an important part of our oncology program,” said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron’s president and chief executive officer. “The Duke clinical trial, which uses dendritic cells pulsed with RNA that encodes telomerase, is based on research we conducted at Duke in conjunction with Merix Bioscience, a privately held company located in North Carolina. We have granted Merix an option to obtain a nonexclusive license to the ex vivo telomerase vaccine technology. We have also granted a nonexclusive license to Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) for ex vivo telomerase cancer vaccines. We have retained rights to develop in vivo therapeutic cancer vaccines in which telomerase DNA or protein would be administered directly to the patient to trigger the immune response, and have patent applications pending for that approach. Because telomerase activity is key to the malignancy of all types of cancer cells, telomerase immunotherapy may be effective against a very wide range of cancer types, potentially allowing us to produce a universal cancer vaccine.”
Physicians or patients who would like more information on the Duke telomerase vaccine trial may contact the clinical trial coordinator at 919-668-3457.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Contact:
Geron Corporation
David L. Greenwood,
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: 650-473-7700
Habe ich wahrscheinlich schon oft gesagt, aber mir juckt es in den Fingern.
Gute Nacht, greenhorn
Heute gab es aus dem Hause Geron wieder sehr gute Neuigkeiten. Der Kurs kletterte daraufhin - zu Beginn des Handels in New York - um rund 15 %, die Gewinne konnten im Intradyverlauf gehalten werden.
GERON CORPORATION RECEIVES U.S. PATENT FOR TELOMERASE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
****************************
Menlo Park, CA — August 27, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced that it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 6,440,735, relating to telomerase-based cancer immunotherapy. Such therapies, which are currently being tested in Phase 1 human clinical trials, use telomerase to prime the patient’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
During tumor progression, the enzyme telomerase is abnormally reactivated and expressed in all major cancer types. The activation of telomerase enables cancer cells to maintain telomere length and resist apoptosis (programmed cell death), enabling unlimited cell growth and resistance to cytotoxic drugs. Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of inhibiting or targeting telomerase in the treatment of cancer. In these studies, telomerase-based therapies have resulted in significant and specific killing of cancer cells without toxicity. Geron’s oncology development programs include products that either inhibit the telomerase enzyme directly (telomerase inhibitors) or, in the case of immunotherapy, direct the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells that contain telomerase.
In the immunotherapy approach protected by this new patent, antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, are isolated from the patient, and treated outside of the body (ex vivo) either with antigenic fragments of the telomerase protein, or with nucleic acids that direct production of the telomerase antigen in the cells. When the treated APCs are given back to the patient they recruit other components of the immune system (such as T-lymphocytes) to attack telomerase-positive cancer cells. Because this type of therapy works by stimulating the patient’s own immune system to attack the cancer, it is referred to as a “cancer vaccine”.
A Phase 1 study of Geron’s ex vivo telomerase vaccine is currently underway in patients with prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center. Additionally, a small Phase 1 study of an ex vivo telomerase peptide vaccine was just concluded at the Dana Farber Cancer Center, and a Phase 2 study of an in vivo telomerase peptide cancer vaccine is being conducted by the National Cancer Institute.
The new patent contains 22 claims covering various aspects of telomerase-based ex vivo cancer vaccines. The patent includes composition of matter claims covering APCs treated to trigger an anti-telomerase immune response, as well as method claims covering techniques for inducing an anti-telomerase response in patients using fragments of telomerase as small as six amino acids in length. “This is the first patent that specifically protects our telomerase vaccines,” noted David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., Geron’s vice president of intellectual property. “This important patent adds a new facet to Geron’s worldwide proprietary rights in the telomerase field, which include the telomerase catalytic protein, the telomerase RNA component, our GRN163 telomerase inhibitor drug, and methods of diagnosing cancer by measuring telomerase.”
“This patent protects an important part of our oncology program,” said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron’s president and chief executive officer. “The Duke clinical trial, which uses dendritic cells pulsed with RNA that encodes telomerase, is based on research we conducted at Duke in conjunction with Merix Bioscience, a privately held company located in North Carolina. We have granted Merix an option to obtain a nonexclusive license to the ex vivo telomerase vaccine technology. We have also granted a nonexclusive license to Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) for ex vivo telomerase cancer vaccines. We have retained rights to develop in vivo therapeutic cancer vaccines in which telomerase DNA or protein would be administered directly to the patient to trigger the immune response, and have patent applications pending for that approach. Because telomerase activity is key to the malignancy of all types of cancer cells, telomerase immunotherapy may be effective against a very wide range of cancer types, potentially allowing us to produce a universal cancer vaccine.”
Physicians or patients who would like more information on the Duke telomerase vaccine trial may contact the clinical trial coordinator at 919-668-3457.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Contact:
Geron Corporation
David L. Greenwood,
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: 650-473-7700
Habe ich wahrscheinlich schon oft gesagt, aber mir juckt es in den Fingern.
Gute Nacht, greenhorn
Hallo zusammen!
Es gibt News! Geron heute bei 4 1/2 US-Dollar. Vielleicht ist in diesem Bereich ja wirklich Schluss mit der Abwärtsbewegung. Die Nachrichten könnten zumindest unterstützend wirken.
GERON CORPORATION RECEIVES NCI AWARD
TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF TELOMERASE INHIBITORS
TO TREAT CANCER
MENLO PARK, CA — September 10, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported receipt of a National Consortium Drug Discovery Group (NCDDG) grant award of $796,189 to support the development of a potent and safe telomerase inhibitor for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. This award constitutes the eighth consecutive year of funding (cumulatively $4.2 million) through the National Institutes of Health for the research collaboration between Geron Corporation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute, which began in September 1995.
The focus of the grant, entitled “Telomerase: A Molecular Target for Cancer Therapy,” is to develop compounds that inhibit telomerase and establish pre-clinical models for demonstrating safety and efficacy of these compounds. A safe and effective telomerase inhibitor has the potential to treat all types of cancer with minimal side effects. Cancer kills through uncontrolled tumor cell growth caused by genetic mutations. All types of cancer rely on telomerase to allow the uncontrolled growth to continue indefinitely, instead of stopping when the cancer cells’ telomeres become critically short. Geron’s lead anti-cancer compound, GRN163, is a telomerase inhibitor that has shown safety and efficacy in multiple, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies.
GRN163 RESULTS TO DATE
In vitro testing: Geron and collaborators so far have tested GRN163 in vitro on 13 different types of cancers, including myeloma, lymphoma, and cancers of the breast, pancreas, kidney, cervix, brain, lung, prostate and ovary, and demonstrated inhibition of telomerase activity in every cancer type. Treatment with GRN163 resulted in senescence and apoptosis (death) of the tumor cells, with the required duration of treatment related to the initial telomere length of the cancer cells. In contrast, even higher concentrations of GRN163 showed no toxicity to a number of normal cell lines.
In vivo testing: Geron and collaborators have also tested GRN163 in animal models of human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer), prostate cancer, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy in all models. In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction in all treated animals. On average the tumors in the treated animals were 70% - 80% smaller than untreated animals. Also, the treated animals showed no signs of toxicity. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared after this very short-term treatment. Additionally, two studies examined delivery of GRN163 into the brains of rats bearing human glioblastoma tumors, and demonstrated that GRN163 was taken up and retained by the tumor cells, indicating appropriate bioavailability (uptake into tumor cells) for the treatment of human brain cancer cells.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has reported data from several in vitro and in vivo studies of human lymphoma and myeloma, two forms of blood cancer. The in vitro studies confirmed that GRN163 effectively inhibited telomerase activity in the tumor cells and caused cancer cell death. The in vivo studies, in which human tumor cells were implanted in immunodeficient mice and then injected with GRN163 or a control, demonstrated that short-term treatment with GRN163 inhibited the growth of both tumor types. Dr. Malcolm A. S. Moore, Department Head of Developmental Hematopoiesis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, presented these data at the European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting in June 2002.
“We are very pleased that our progress in the development of telomerase inhibitors as novel anti-cancer agents has been judged by the National Cancer Institute to warrant continued funding,” said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron’s president and chief executive officer. “Because telomerase activity is key to the malignancy and spread of all types of cancer cells, we believe telomerase inhibition will be effective against a very wide range of cancer types, while avoiding toxicity to normal cells.”
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Geron has an extensive patent portfolio relating to telomerase, including issued patents covering the sequence of the GRN163 compound. Earlier this year, Geron acquired various patents and patent applications owned by Lynx Therapeutics that cover oligonucleotides with phosphoramidate backbone linkages and methods of synthesizing them; these patents provide Geron with rights needed to manufacture GRN163.
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
Geron expects to complete pre-clinical toxicology studies by the first quarter of 2003, and then file an IND in support of a Phase 1 clinical trial. After FDA approval, the Phase 1 trial will be conducted at two or more cancer centers, and will focus on glioblastoma (brain cancer). Geron expects to begin patient enrollment for the trial in the first half of 2003.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer. The company’s oncology development program directed against telomerase rests on three synergistic approaches: direct telomerase inhibition (GRN163); telomerase immunotherapy; and anti-tumor gene therapy/oncolytic therapy utilizing the telomerase promoter.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Gruß, greenhorn
Es gibt News! Geron heute bei 4 1/2 US-Dollar. Vielleicht ist in diesem Bereich ja wirklich Schluss mit der Abwärtsbewegung. Die Nachrichten könnten zumindest unterstützend wirken.
GERON CORPORATION RECEIVES NCI AWARD
TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF TELOMERASE INHIBITORS
TO TREAT CANCER
MENLO PARK, CA — September 10, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today reported receipt of a National Consortium Drug Discovery Group (NCDDG) grant award of $796,189 to support the development of a potent and safe telomerase inhibitor for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. This award constitutes the eighth consecutive year of funding (cumulatively $4.2 million) through the National Institutes of Health for the research collaboration between Geron Corporation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute, which began in September 1995.
The focus of the grant, entitled “Telomerase: A Molecular Target for Cancer Therapy,” is to develop compounds that inhibit telomerase and establish pre-clinical models for demonstrating safety and efficacy of these compounds. A safe and effective telomerase inhibitor has the potential to treat all types of cancer with minimal side effects. Cancer kills through uncontrolled tumor cell growth caused by genetic mutations. All types of cancer rely on telomerase to allow the uncontrolled growth to continue indefinitely, instead of stopping when the cancer cells’ telomeres become critically short. Geron’s lead anti-cancer compound, GRN163, is a telomerase inhibitor that has shown safety and efficacy in multiple, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies.
GRN163 RESULTS TO DATE
In vitro testing: Geron and collaborators so far have tested GRN163 in vitro on 13 different types of cancers, including myeloma, lymphoma, and cancers of the breast, pancreas, kidney, cervix, brain, lung, prostate and ovary, and demonstrated inhibition of telomerase activity in every cancer type. Treatment with GRN163 resulted in senescence and apoptosis (death) of the tumor cells, with the required duration of treatment related to the initial telomere length of the cancer cells. In contrast, even higher concentrations of GRN163 showed no toxicity to a number of normal cell lines.
In vivo testing: Geron and collaborators have also tested GRN163 in animal models of human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer), prostate cancer, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy in all models. In three separate studies, human malignant glioblastoma (brain cancer cells) were implanted under the skin in mice and the resulting tumors were treated with GRN163. In all three studies, short-term treatment (over one to three weeks) with GRN163 resulted in tumor reduction in all treated animals. On average the tumors in the treated animals were 70% - 80% smaller than untreated animals. Also, the treated animals showed no signs of toxicity. Importantly, tumor growth was slowed in all of the mice that received GRN163, and in one case, the tumor completely disappeared after this very short-term treatment. Additionally, two studies examined delivery of GRN163 into the brains of rats bearing human glioblastoma tumors, and demonstrated that GRN163 was taken up and retained by the tumor cells, indicating appropriate bioavailability (uptake into tumor cells) for the treatment of human brain cancer cells.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has reported data from several in vitro and in vivo studies of human lymphoma and myeloma, two forms of blood cancer. The in vitro studies confirmed that GRN163 effectively inhibited telomerase activity in the tumor cells and caused cancer cell death. The in vivo studies, in which human tumor cells were implanted in immunodeficient mice and then injected with GRN163 or a control, demonstrated that short-term treatment with GRN163 inhibited the growth of both tumor types. Dr. Malcolm A. S. Moore, Department Head of Developmental Hematopoiesis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, presented these data at the European Haematology Association 7th Annual Meeting in June 2002.
“We are very pleased that our progress in the development of telomerase inhibitors as novel anti-cancer agents has been judged by the National Cancer Institute to warrant continued funding,” said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron’s president and chief executive officer. “Because telomerase activity is key to the malignancy and spread of all types of cancer cells, we believe telomerase inhibition will be effective against a very wide range of cancer types, while avoiding toxicity to normal cells.”
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Geron has an extensive patent portfolio relating to telomerase, including issued patents covering the sequence of the GRN163 compound. Earlier this year, Geron acquired various patents and patent applications owned by Lynx Therapeutics that cover oligonucleotides with phosphoramidate backbone linkages and methods of synthesizing them; these patents provide Geron with rights needed to manufacture GRN163.
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
Geron expects to complete pre-clinical toxicology studies by the first quarter of 2003, and then file an IND in support of a Phase 1 clinical trial. After FDA approval, the Phase 1 trial will be conducted at two or more cancer centers, and will focus on glioblastoma (brain cancer). Geron expects to begin patient enrollment for the trial in the first half of 2003.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer. The company’s oncology development program directed against telomerase rests on three synergistic approaches: direct telomerase inhibition (GRN163); telomerase immunotherapy; and anti-tumor gene therapy/oncolytic therapy utilizing the telomerase promoter.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Gruß, greenhorn
Hallo zusammen, ich schon wieder!
Aber das war noch nicht alles:
GERON CORPORATION REPORTS PUBLICATION
OF RESEARCH VALIDATING
TELOMERASE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
MENLO PARK, CA — September 12, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today that researchers at Duke University Medical Center have published data providing additional validation for the use of telomerase as an antigen for cancer immunotherapy.
The research, published in the September 1, 2002 issue of Cancer Research, shows that RNA encoding the protein component of telomerase (TERT RNA), when introduced into dendritic cells (DCs), is effective in priming telomerase-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) to target and destroy malignant tumors. The TERT RNA-modified DCs also induced a significant “helper” T cell response, which is considered a critical component for potent and durable cellular immune responses. Importantly, the in vitro studies also suggest only a “minimal risk” that telomerase immunotherapy will target the rare normal cells that transiently express telomerase.
Telomerase is abnormally activated in all human cancer types, including breast, lung, colon, prostate and hematologic tumors. That makes telomerase an attractive candidate for use in a therapeutic cancer vaccine. A Phase 1 study of Geron’s ex vivo telomerase vaccine is currently underway in patients with metastatic prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center.
The newly published research, performed by Drs. Johannes Vieweg, Zhen Su, Eli Gilboa and their colleagues at Duke, builds on the earlier work by Duke and Geron researchers, published in the September 2000 issue of Nature Medicine, which demonstrated that TERT RNA-modified DCs generated an in vivo immune response in mice that inhibited the growth of all malignant tumors tested, including breast, melanoma, and bladder cancer. As announced on August 27, 2002, Geron has received U.S. Patent No. 6,440,735 which covers the application and commercialization of this novel approach to cancer therapy.
“These experimental results are very important,” commented Calvin B. Harley, Ph.D., Geron’s chief scientific officer. “It is widely recognized that telomerase is universally present in cancer cells, and that an effective TERT-based cancer vaccine could be used against a broad range of tumor types. These results demonstrate again that TERT RNA should function as an effective immunogen in cancer patients, stimulating telomerase-specific immune cells that can destroy cancer cells. They also suggest that the broad immune response stimulated by TERT RNA should lead to tumor cell death without damaging the normal cells that express lower levels of telomerase.”
Study Results
The published paper notes the findings of other research that, to be effective, a cancer vaccine should produce both CD8+ T cells (such as CTLs) that bind to antigenic peptides in association with MHC Class I molecules, and CD4+ “helper” T cells that bind to antigens in the context of MHC Class II molecules. The TERT-modified DC vaccine did both.
The Duke scientists transfected DCs from human cancer patients with either TERT RNA or TERT RNA modified to include the sequence encoding LAMP (lysosome-associated membrane protein), which when coupled with an antigen has been shown to boost “helper” T cell response to that antigen. They demonstrated that both forms of TERT were equally effective at stimulating a telomerase-specific CTL response. As expected, the TERT RNA modified with LAMP demonstrated enhanced enlistment of CD4 “helper” T cells, which is hypothesized to result in a more robust anti-tumor immune response. Somewhat surprisingly, the unmodified TERT RNA also showed a significant CD4 response.
The investigators used TERT RNA-transfected DCs from a cancer patient to stimulate autologous CTLs from blood cells. The resulting CTLs were very effective at recognizing and destroying a number of telomerase-positive human targets, including prostate cancer cells, colon cancer cells, liver cancer cells and breast cancer cells, while not targeting control cells.
Although these telomerase-specific CTLs effectively lysed (destroyed) DCs that had been transfected with either TERT RNA or RNA from renal cancer cells, they did not lyse DCs transfected with RNA from several normal tissues that express telomerase transiently or at low levels, including bone marrow, normal renal epithelium, normal skin, or adrenal gland. As reported in the paper, these and other results suggest that the telomerase expression levels in the few non-malignant tissues that express the enzyme are “below the necessary threshold level to be targeted by telomerase immunotherapy.” The authors concluded that “vaccine-induced autoimmunity may not be a serious issue with this approach.”
“These preclinical results suggest that the ex vivo telomerase vaccine should be safe,” said David B. Karpf, M.D., Geron’s executive medical director. “The approach described in this paper is currently being explored in the Phase 1 trial of the ex vivo telomerase vaccine underway in patients with metastatic prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center. The paper shows the potential of this approach for treating prostate cancer and other cancers as well.”
Physicians or patients who would like more information on the Duke telomerase vaccine trial may contact the clinical trial coordinator at 919-668-3457.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, regulatory approvals and clearances, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Gruß, greenhorn
Aber das war noch nicht alles:
GERON CORPORATION REPORTS PUBLICATION
OF RESEARCH VALIDATING
TELOMERASE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
MENLO PARK, CA — September 12, 2002 — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today that researchers at Duke University Medical Center have published data providing additional validation for the use of telomerase as an antigen for cancer immunotherapy.
The research, published in the September 1, 2002 issue of Cancer Research, shows that RNA encoding the protein component of telomerase (TERT RNA), when introduced into dendritic cells (DCs), is effective in priming telomerase-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) to target and destroy malignant tumors. The TERT RNA-modified DCs also induced a significant “helper” T cell response, which is considered a critical component for potent and durable cellular immune responses. Importantly, the in vitro studies also suggest only a “minimal risk” that telomerase immunotherapy will target the rare normal cells that transiently express telomerase.
Telomerase is abnormally activated in all human cancer types, including breast, lung, colon, prostate and hematologic tumors. That makes telomerase an attractive candidate for use in a therapeutic cancer vaccine. A Phase 1 study of Geron’s ex vivo telomerase vaccine is currently underway in patients with metastatic prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center.
The newly published research, performed by Drs. Johannes Vieweg, Zhen Su, Eli Gilboa and their colleagues at Duke, builds on the earlier work by Duke and Geron researchers, published in the September 2000 issue of Nature Medicine, which demonstrated that TERT RNA-modified DCs generated an in vivo immune response in mice that inhibited the growth of all malignant tumors tested, including breast, melanoma, and bladder cancer. As announced on August 27, 2002, Geron has received U.S. Patent No. 6,440,735 which covers the application and commercialization of this novel approach to cancer therapy.
“These experimental results are very important,” commented Calvin B. Harley, Ph.D., Geron’s chief scientific officer. “It is widely recognized that telomerase is universally present in cancer cells, and that an effective TERT-based cancer vaccine could be used against a broad range of tumor types. These results demonstrate again that TERT RNA should function as an effective immunogen in cancer patients, stimulating telomerase-specific immune cells that can destroy cancer cells. They also suggest that the broad immune response stimulated by TERT RNA should lead to tumor cell death without damaging the normal cells that express lower levels of telomerase.”
Study Results
The published paper notes the findings of other research that, to be effective, a cancer vaccine should produce both CD8+ T cells (such as CTLs) that bind to antigenic peptides in association with MHC Class I molecules, and CD4+ “helper” T cells that bind to antigens in the context of MHC Class II molecules. The TERT-modified DC vaccine did both.
The Duke scientists transfected DCs from human cancer patients with either TERT RNA or TERT RNA modified to include the sequence encoding LAMP (lysosome-associated membrane protein), which when coupled with an antigen has been shown to boost “helper” T cell response to that antigen. They demonstrated that both forms of TERT were equally effective at stimulating a telomerase-specific CTL response. As expected, the TERT RNA modified with LAMP demonstrated enhanced enlistment of CD4 “helper” T cells, which is hypothesized to result in a more robust anti-tumor immune response. Somewhat surprisingly, the unmodified TERT RNA also showed a significant CD4 response.
The investigators used TERT RNA-transfected DCs from a cancer patient to stimulate autologous CTLs from blood cells. The resulting CTLs were very effective at recognizing and destroying a number of telomerase-positive human targets, including prostate cancer cells, colon cancer cells, liver cancer cells and breast cancer cells, while not targeting control cells.
Although these telomerase-specific CTLs effectively lysed (destroyed) DCs that had been transfected with either TERT RNA or RNA from renal cancer cells, they did not lyse DCs transfected with RNA from several normal tissues that express telomerase transiently or at low levels, including bone marrow, normal renal epithelium, normal skin, or adrenal gland. As reported in the paper, these and other results suggest that the telomerase expression levels in the few non-malignant tissues that express the enzyme are “below the necessary threshold level to be targeted by telomerase immunotherapy.” The authors concluded that “vaccine-induced autoimmunity may not be a serious issue with this approach.”
“These preclinical results suggest that the ex vivo telomerase vaccine should be safe,” said David B. Karpf, M.D., Geron’s executive medical director. “The approach described in this paper is currently being explored in the Phase 1 trial of the ex vivo telomerase vaccine underway in patients with metastatic prostate cancer at Duke University Medical Center. The paper shows the potential of this approach for treating prostate cancer and other cancers as well.”
Physicians or patients who would like more information on the Duke telomerase vaccine trial may contact the clinical trial coordinator at 919-668-3457.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug discovery. Geron’s product development programs are based upon three patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding future applications of Geron Corporation’s technology constitute statements involving risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, regulatory approvals and clearances, dependence on collaborative partners, and the maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Gruß, greenhorn
Wollte mir auch Geron zu 4 Euro kaufen habe meine Order heute gelöscht.Ich habe so ein Gefühl im Bauch das es Geron vielleicht noch billiger gibt.
Zur Abwechslung mal ein in deutscher Sprache verfasster Artikel.
Neuer Ansatz zur Therapie von Krebs
Wissenschaftler wollen Tumorzellen durch das Abfangen des Enzyms Telomerase sterblich machen
Von Nicole Silbermann
Berkeley - Einen neuen Weg bei der Behandlung von Krebs haben möglicherweise Wissenschaftler der University of California in Berkeley geebnet. In der aktuellen Ausgabe des Fachmagazins "Nature Cell Biology" sind die Ergebnisse ihrer Studie veröffentlicht.
Die Forscher haben herausgefunden, dass das für die Unsterblichkeit der Krebszellen verantwortliche Enzym Telomerase in diesen Zellen über den gesamten Zellkern verteilt in aktiver Form vorliegt. In gesunden Zellen ist es dagegen ausschließlich in einem bestimmten Bereich des Zellkerns lokalisiert und wird nur während des Stadiums der Zellteilung freigesetzt. Der neue Ansatz für eine Therapie könnte darin liegen, das Enzym in den Krebszellen wieder einzufangen oder zu hemmen, um ein unbegrenztes Wachstum der Krebszellen zu verhindern.
Das Enzym Telomerase kommt nicht in allen Zellen des Körpers vor, sondern nur in sich besonders schnell teilenden Zellen. Es findet sich normalerweise nur in Keimzellen, den sich ständig erneuernden Zellen der obersten Hautschicht, in Knochenmarkszellen sowie in Gewebezellen, die den Verdauungstrakt auskleiden. Die Telomerase hilft dabei, DNA-Schäden während der Zellteilung zu vermeiden und somit die Aufrechterhaltung der Erbinformation in der nächsten Zellgeneration zu gewährleisten. In 80 Prozent aller menschlichen Tumorzellen ist es vorhanden und überdies in einer besonders hohen Konzentration.
Die Erbinformation des Menschen befindet sich in jeder Zelle des Körpers im Zellkern auf insgesamt 23 Chromosomenpaaren. Die Chromosomen haben für die DNA sowohl Schutz- als auch Trägerfunktionen. Sie haben an ihren Enden kurze DNA-Schutzkappen, ähnlich wie die Plastikhülsen an einem Schnürsenkel. Die so genannten Telomere enthalten keine Erbinformation und bewahren die Chromosomen vor einem Verlust von essenzieller DNA. Mit jeder Zellteilung geht aber ein kleines Stück dieser Schutzkappe verloren, so dass die Telomere kürzer werden. Normalerweise kann sich eine Zelle zwischen 40 und 60 Mal teilen. Dann sind die Telomere auf eine kritische Länge geschrumpft, und die Zelle hört auf, sich zu vermehren, altert und stirbt.
In den Zelltypen allerdings, die Telomerase besitzen, also auch in Krebszellen, werden diese verloren gegangenen Telomerstücke wieder von dem Enzym Telomerase erneuert. Auf diese Weise erhöht sich die Lebenszeit der Zellen enorm. Das Zählwerk wird gewissermaßen abgeschaltet, und die Zelle wird unsterblich.
Die Telomerase ist auch bereits als so genanntes "Unsterblichkeitsenzym" bekannt und gab Hoffnung auf ein mögliches Zurückdrehen der biologischen Uhr. Mit Hilfe von Enzym-Injektionen sollte der Zellalterung Einhalt geboten werden und zu einem längeren Leben führen. Im Reagenzglas konnte die Lebensspanne normaler menschlicher Zellen mit Telomerase bereits verlängert werden.
Weiterhin könnte Telomerase bei der Behandlung von Anämien oder HIV eingesetzt werden, um die Stammzellen im Blut oder des Immunsystems zu stärken. Dennoch müssten nach Ansicht der Forscher noch Wege gefunden werden, wie das Enzym an die richtigen Stellen in der Zelle gelangt, um dort wirken zu können. Allerdings könnten die Stammzellen auch selbst in der Lage sein, das Enzym an den richtigen Funktionsort zu transportieren.
Neuer Ansatz zur Therapie von Krebs
Wissenschaftler wollen Tumorzellen durch das Abfangen des Enzyms Telomerase sterblich machen
Von Nicole Silbermann
Berkeley - Einen neuen Weg bei der Behandlung von Krebs haben möglicherweise Wissenschaftler der University of California in Berkeley geebnet. In der aktuellen Ausgabe des Fachmagazins "Nature Cell Biology" sind die Ergebnisse ihrer Studie veröffentlicht.
Die Forscher haben herausgefunden, dass das für die Unsterblichkeit der Krebszellen verantwortliche Enzym Telomerase in diesen Zellen über den gesamten Zellkern verteilt in aktiver Form vorliegt. In gesunden Zellen ist es dagegen ausschließlich in einem bestimmten Bereich des Zellkerns lokalisiert und wird nur während des Stadiums der Zellteilung freigesetzt. Der neue Ansatz für eine Therapie könnte darin liegen, das Enzym in den Krebszellen wieder einzufangen oder zu hemmen, um ein unbegrenztes Wachstum der Krebszellen zu verhindern.
Das Enzym Telomerase kommt nicht in allen Zellen des Körpers vor, sondern nur in sich besonders schnell teilenden Zellen. Es findet sich normalerweise nur in Keimzellen, den sich ständig erneuernden Zellen der obersten Hautschicht, in Knochenmarkszellen sowie in Gewebezellen, die den Verdauungstrakt auskleiden. Die Telomerase hilft dabei, DNA-Schäden während der Zellteilung zu vermeiden und somit die Aufrechterhaltung der Erbinformation in der nächsten Zellgeneration zu gewährleisten. In 80 Prozent aller menschlichen Tumorzellen ist es vorhanden und überdies in einer besonders hohen Konzentration.
Die Erbinformation des Menschen befindet sich in jeder Zelle des Körpers im Zellkern auf insgesamt 23 Chromosomenpaaren. Die Chromosomen haben für die DNA sowohl Schutz- als auch Trägerfunktionen. Sie haben an ihren Enden kurze DNA-Schutzkappen, ähnlich wie die Plastikhülsen an einem Schnürsenkel. Die so genannten Telomere enthalten keine Erbinformation und bewahren die Chromosomen vor einem Verlust von essenzieller DNA. Mit jeder Zellteilung geht aber ein kleines Stück dieser Schutzkappe verloren, so dass die Telomere kürzer werden. Normalerweise kann sich eine Zelle zwischen 40 und 60 Mal teilen. Dann sind die Telomere auf eine kritische Länge geschrumpft, und die Zelle hört auf, sich zu vermehren, altert und stirbt.
In den Zelltypen allerdings, die Telomerase besitzen, also auch in Krebszellen, werden diese verloren gegangenen Telomerstücke wieder von dem Enzym Telomerase erneuert. Auf diese Weise erhöht sich die Lebenszeit der Zellen enorm. Das Zählwerk wird gewissermaßen abgeschaltet, und die Zelle wird unsterblich.
Die Telomerase ist auch bereits als so genanntes "Unsterblichkeitsenzym" bekannt und gab Hoffnung auf ein mögliches Zurückdrehen der biologischen Uhr. Mit Hilfe von Enzym-Injektionen sollte der Zellalterung Einhalt geboten werden und zu einem längeren Leben führen. Im Reagenzglas konnte die Lebensspanne normaler menschlicher Zellen mit Telomerase bereits verlängert werden.
Weiterhin könnte Telomerase bei der Behandlung von Anämien oder HIV eingesetzt werden, um die Stammzellen im Blut oder des Immunsystems zu stärken. Dennoch müssten nach Ansicht der Forscher noch Wege gefunden werden, wie das Enzym an die richtigen Stellen in der Zelle gelangt, um dort wirken zu können. Allerdings könnten die Stammzellen auch selbst in der Lage sein, das Enzym an den richtigen Funktionsort zu transportieren.
Hallo,
Beachtet mir Geron. Die Bodenbildung wird in den nächsten Tagen abgeschlossen. Viel billiger wird die Aktie nicht mehr. Dabei hat sie gewaltige Potential.
Gruss sahei
Beachtet mir Geron. Die Bodenbildung wird in den nächsten Tagen abgeschlossen. Viel billiger wird die Aktie nicht mehr. Dabei hat sie gewaltige Potential.
Gruss sahei
Hallo zusammen!
@sahei
Das sehe ich ähnlich, obwohl mir die konjunkturelle Entwicklung in Europa und den USA nicht gefällt und ich dementsprechend für die weitere Entwicklung des Gesamtmarktes eher skeptisch bin. In wie weit kann sich Geron dem entziehen? Auf der anderen Seite: Ist Geron davon wirklich betroffen?
Man muss tatsächlich sagen, dass es bei Geron seit Monaten auf tiefem Niveau seitwärts geht, zwischen 3 1/2 und 4 1/2 US-Dollar. So etwas nenne ich Bodenbildung!
Und die Neuigkeiten waren excellent. Für meinen Geschmack könnte es sich bei Geron gerade jetzt um einen ganz fantastischen antizyklischen Kauf handeln, der sich langfristig mehr als auszahlen sollte.
Momentan will keiner Bios anfassen, irgendwann wird sich das ändern und dann sollte man drin sein. Geron gehört zu meinen Favoriten! 
Gruß, greenhorn
@sahei
Das sehe ich ähnlich, obwohl mir die konjunkturelle Entwicklung in Europa und den USA nicht gefällt und ich dementsprechend für die weitere Entwicklung des Gesamtmarktes eher skeptisch bin. In wie weit kann sich Geron dem entziehen? Auf der anderen Seite: Ist Geron davon wirklich betroffen?
Man muss tatsächlich sagen, dass es bei Geron seit Monaten auf tiefem Niveau seitwärts geht, zwischen 3 1/2 und 4 1/2 US-Dollar. So etwas nenne ich Bodenbildung!
Und die Neuigkeiten waren excellent. Für meinen Geschmack könnte es sich bei Geron gerade jetzt um einen ganz fantastischen antizyklischen Kauf handeln, der sich langfristig mehr als auszahlen sollte.
Momentan will keiner Bios anfassen, irgendwann wird sich das ändern und dann sollte man drin sein. Geron gehört zu meinen Favoriten! 
Gruß, greenhorn
Der neue BioTech-World Letter ist heute raus
folgende Themen:
Inhaltsangabe
Stichwort des Monats : Omnis Cellula Ex Cellula Stammzellen – S. 1-4
Analyse : Geron – S. 5-10
Werbung : Krebs-Report 2002 S. 11
Analysen : Aastrom – S. 12-15
Impressum – S. 16
Gruss Tullie09
@Tullie09
Wie sieht denn Dein Fazit für Geron aus? Chartmäßig sieht es ja seit gestern nicht mehr so gut aus. Der Kurs scheint auf der Suche nach neuen Tiefs zu sein. Ich hoffe ja noch, dass es sich um eine Bärenfalle handelt.
Gruss sahei
Wie sieht denn Dein Fazit für Geron aus? Chartmäßig sieht es ja seit gestern nicht mehr so gut aus. Der Kurs scheint auf der Suche nach neuen Tiefs zu sein. Ich hoffe ja noch, dass es sich um eine Bärenfalle handelt.
Gruss sahei
@ Alle
Habe soeben auf der Homepage von Geron die Zahlen von 2002 per 30.09.02 gesehen. Sehen gar nicht so schlecht aus. Die Verluste wurden kräftig reduziert, d.h. gedrittelt. Von $(1.04) $(1.08) $(0.42) $ (0.29) kontinuierlich auf
0,29 $/per share. Wenn das keine gute Nachricht ist.
Gruss Sahei
Habe soeben auf der Homepage von Geron die Zahlen von 2002 per 30.09.02 gesehen. Sehen gar nicht so schlecht aus. Die Verluste wurden kräftig reduziert, d.h. gedrittelt. Von $(1.04) $(1.08) $(0.42) $ (0.29) kontinuierlich auf
0,29 $/per share. Wenn das keine gute Nachricht ist.
Gruss Sahei
hallo
am besten du lädst dir den letter wo eine super analyse über geron drin steht.
download :
grösse : ca 412 kb PDF Format
http://www.biotech-world.de/archiv/letter/092002.pdf
am besten du lädst dir den letter wo eine super analyse über geron drin steht.
download :
grösse : ca 412 kb PDF Format
http://www.biotech-world.de/archiv/letter/092002.pdf
x
Analyse: Geron Corporation
Geron Corporation
230 Constitution Drive
Menlo Park CA 94025
www.geron.com
Nasdaq: GERN
WKN: 902213
IPO: 1997
Anzahl der Mitarbeiter: ca. 100
Marktkapitalisierung (11.11.02): ca. 97.711.150 $
Die Geron Corporation ist ein Biotechnologieunternehmen, das sich mit dem sehr kritischen Thema
embryonale Stammzellen auseinandersetzt, in der Tat sind sie Marktführer in diesem Bereich.
Geron hat sich auf die Untersuchung, Erfors chung und Behandlung altersbedingter Krankheiten wie z.B. Krebs, Osteoporose, Artheriosklerose, Hautalterungen, regenerativer Medizin und Alzheimer konzentriert. Embryonale Stammzellen und die damit zusammenhängende Telomeraseaktivität bilden dabei das zentralste Thema: Geron besitzt sieben eigene Stammzellinien, mehr als jede andere Firma.
Es befindet erst ein Medikament - ein Telomerase-Impfstoff - in klinischer Erprobung (Phase 1),
präklinisch werden im Bereich der Onkologie mehrere Telomeraseinhibitoren entwickelt und
getestet. Des Weiteren gibt es Bestrebungen, das Wissen in die Diagnostik einfliessen zu lassen.
Auch in der Landwirtschaft und im transgenen Tierbereich sind Anwendungen denkbar und in
Angriff genommen worden. Wichtig hierbei ist die Forschung im Bereich der
Zellkerntransplantation.
Es bestehen zahlreiche Partnerschaften, teils mit sehr bedeutenden Firmen. Dies spiegelt das
Interesse, die hervorragenden Perspektiven und das Zukunftspotential, das in dieser Firma
schlummert, wider.
Am intensivsten untersucht Geron embryonale Stammzellen und den Mechanismus der Zellalterung
mit besonderem Augenmerk auf den Telomeren. Bei den Telomeren handelt es sich um DNA-Abschnitte, die an den Enden der Chromosomen sitzen. Bei der Zellteilung werden diese Enden
kürzer, was eine vorzeitige Alterung der Zelle bewirkt und so gegebenenfalls zu einer verkürzten Lebensdauer der Zelle/des Organismus führt.
Durch das Enzym Telomerase hoffen die Wissenschaftler; den Alterungsprozess zu verlangsamen
oder ganz zu stoppen. Aus den gewonnenen Kenntnissen auf dem Gebiet ergeben sich
verschiedene Ansätze zur Behandlung der oben genannten Krankheiten:
1. So könnte die Telomerase von Zellen aktiviert werden, um den Alterungsprozess zu stoppen
oder umzukehren. Dies wurde im „Reagenzglas“ z. B. an Hautzellen alter Menschen bereits
erfolgreich gezeigt.
2. Genauso könnte die Telomerase in Krebszellen zerstört/inaktiviert werden, um die Sterblichkeit
dieser Zellen zu erhöhen.
3. Auch auf dem zukunftsweisenden Gebiet der Benutzung von Stammzellen für
Gewebstransplantationen, Gentherapien, etc. sind diese Kenntnisse nützlich.
Geron Corporation
230 Constitution Drive
Menlo Park CA 94025
www.geron.com
Nasdaq: GERN
WKN: 902213
IPO: 1997
Anzahl der Mitarbeiter: ca. 100
Marktkapitalisierung (11.11.02): ca. 97.711.150 $
Die Geron Corporation ist ein Biotechnologieunternehmen, das sich mit dem sehr kritischen Thema
embryonale Stammzellen auseinandersetzt, in der Tat sind sie Marktführer in diesem Bereich.
Geron hat sich auf die Untersuchung, Erfors chung und Behandlung altersbedingter Krankheiten wie z.B. Krebs, Osteoporose, Artheriosklerose, Hautalterungen, regenerativer Medizin und Alzheimer konzentriert. Embryonale Stammzellen und die damit zusammenhängende Telomeraseaktivität bilden dabei das zentralste Thema: Geron besitzt sieben eigene Stammzellinien, mehr als jede andere Firma.
Es befindet erst ein Medikament - ein Telomerase-Impfstoff - in klinischer Erprobung (Phase 1),
präklinisch werden im Bereich der Onkologie mehrere Telomeraseinhibitoren entwickelt und
getestet. Des Weiteren gibt es Bestrebungen, das Wissen in die Diagnostik einfliessen zu lassen.
Auch in der Landwirtschaft und im transgenen Tierbereich sind Anwendungen denkbar und in
Angriff genommen worden. Wichtig hierbei ist die Forschung im Bereich der
Zellkerntransplantation.
Es bestehen zahlreiche Partnerschaften, teils mit sehr bedeutenden Firmen. Dies spiegelt das
Interesse, die hervorragenden Perspektiven und das Zukunftspotential, das in dieser Firma
schlummert, wider.
Am intensivsten untersucht Geron embryonale Stammzellen und den Mechanismus der Zellalterung
mit besonderem Augenmerk auf den Telomeren. Bei den Telomeren handelt es sich um DNA-Abschnitte, die an den Enden der Chromosomen sitzen. Bei der Zellteilung werden diese Enden
kürzer, was eine vorzeitige Alterung der Zelle bewirkt und so gegebenenfalls zu einer verkürzten Lebensdauer der Zelle/des Organismus führt.
Durch das Enzym Telomerase hoffen die Wissenschaftler; den Alterungsprozess zu verlangsamen
oder ganz zu stoppen. Aus den gewonnenen Kenntnissen auf dem Gebiet ergeben sich
verschiedene Ansätze zur Behandlung der oben genannten Krankheiten:
1. So könnte die Telomerase von Zellen aktiviert werden, um den Alterungsprozess zu stoppen
oder umzukehren. Dies wurde im „Reagenzglas“ z. B. an Hautzellen alter Menschen bereits
erfolgreich gezeigt.
2. Genauso könnte die Telomerase in Krebszellen zerstört/inaktiviert werden, um die Sterblichkeit
dieser Zellen zu erhöhen.
3. Auch auf dem zukunftsweisenden Gebiet der Benutzung von Stammzellen für
Gewebstransplantationen, Gentherapien, etc. sind diese Kenntnisse nützlich.
Hallo zusammen!
Ich finde die Analyse von Biotech-World wirklich sehr gelungen. Positiv finde ich vor allen Dingen das Fazit, Geron habe natürlich immenses Potenzial, es bestünden aber natürlich große Risiken in der Pipeline (schließlich sind die Produkte ja nicht wirklich weit fortgeschritten), aber auch Risiken hinsichtlich Politik und Ethik.
Gibt es überhaupt einen Markt für Geron-Produkte? Werden diese aufgrund der moralischen Bedenken, die ja nun bezüglich der Stammzellen nicht wegzudiskutieren sind, vom Markt akzeptiert?
Wenn ich das richtig verstanden habe, gibt Biotech-World aufgrund dessen gar keine Empfehlung ab, sondern macht nur auf Chancen und Risiken aufmerksam.
Gruß, greenhorn
Ich finde die Analyse von Biotech-World wirklich sehr gelungen. Positiv finde ich vor allen Dingen das Fazit, Geron habe natürlich immenses Potenzial, es bestünden aber natürlich große Risiken in der Pipeline (schließlich sind die Produkte ja nicht wirklich weit fortgeschritten), aber auch Risiken hinsichtlich Politik und Ethik.
Gibt es überhaupt einen Markt für Geron-Produkte? Werden diese aufgrund der moralischen Bedenken, die ja nun bezüglich der Stammzellen nicht wegzudiskutieren sind, vom Markt akzeptiert?
Wenn ich das richtig verstanden habe, gibt Biotech-World aufgrund dessen gar keine Empfehlung ab, sondern macht nur auf Chancen und Risiken aufmerksam.
Gruß, greenhorn
Hallo,
Geron könnte es geschafft haben. Heute hat Geron die 38-Tagelinie von unten nach oben durchbrochen. Wenn der Kurs die 3,7 nicht unterschreitet, dann ist es ausgestanden. Dann kann es nur noch nach oben gehen.
Gruss sahei
Geron könnte es geschafft haben. Heute hat Geron die 38-Tagelinie von unten nach oben durchbrochen. Wenn der Kurs die 3,7 nicht unterschreitet, dann ist es ausgestanden. Dann kann es nur noch nach oben gehen.
Gruss sahei
Na bitte,
Geron hält sich doch in dem schwachen Umfeld prächtig.
Kaufen, kaufen, kaufen!!! Dann wird sich auch endlich ein Aufwärtstrend etablieren.
Gruss sahei
Geron hält sich doch in dem schwachen Umfeld prächtig.
Kaufen, kaufen, kaufen!!! Dann wird sich auch endlich ein Aufwärtstrend etablieren.
Gruss sahei
@ Moorhenne
Warum hören wir nichts mehr von Dir? Warum steigen Stem Cells und Techniclone und Geron nicht?
Gruss sahei
Warum hören wir nichts mehr von Dir? Warum steigen Stem Cells und Techniclone und Geron nicht?
Gruss sahei
Hallo,
wenn nun Geron nicht endlich steigt, sehe ich Probleme. Tiefer darf es nicht mehr gehen.
Gruss sahei
wenn nun Geron nicht endlich steigt, sehe ich Probleme. Tiefer darf es nicht mehr gehen.
Gruss sahei
22.01. 09:39
Geron: Neue Ziele für 2003, Entlassungen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(©BörseGo - http://www.boerse-go.de)
Das Biotechnologie Unternehmen Geron sagte am späten Donnerstag, rund 40% der Mitarbeiter entlassen zu wollen, um resourcensparend weiter arbeiten zu können, sodass es keine Probleme bei der Entwicklung eines Krebs- und eines Stammzellen-basierenden Medikamentes geben wird. Im Bereich Forschung sollen 29 und im Bereich Support 11 Mitarbeiter der insgesamt 95 Mann starken Belegschaft abgebaut werden.
Während sich die Forschung Geron´s in der Vergangenheit auf diagnostische Produkte, auf Research Werkzeuge für die Medikamenten Forschung und auf das Klonen konzentrierte, möchte man in Zukunft einen Schwerpunkt auf embrionale Stammzellen und auf das Antikrebs-Medikament GRN163 legen. GRN163 fokussiere Telomerase, ein Enzym, dass laut Geron bei der Bildung von Krebszellen sehr aktiv sei
:O
Geron: Neue Ziele für 2003, Entlassungen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(©BörseGo - http://www.boerse-go.de)
Das Biotechnologie Unternehmen Geron sagte am späten Donnerstag, rund 40% der Mitarbeiter entlassen zu wollen, um resourcensparend weiter arbeiten zu können, sodass es keine Probleme bei der Entwicklung eines Krebs- und eines Stammzellen-basierenden Medikamentes geben wird. Im Bereich Forschung sollen 29 und im Bereich Support 11 Mitarbeiter der insgesamt 95 Mann starken Belegschaft abgebaut werden.
Während sich die Forschung Geron´s in der Vergangenheit auf diagnostische Produkte, auf Research Werkzeuge für die Medikamenten Forschung und auf das Klonen konzentrierte, möchte man in Zukunft einen Schwerpunkt auf embrionale Stammzellen und auf das Antikrebs-Medikament GRN163 legen. GRN163 fokussiere Telomerase, ein Enzym, dass laut Geron bei der Bildung von Krebszellen sehr aktiv sei
:O
Stirbt geron wie Dolly?
das interesse der Investoren geht jedenfalls gegen NULL
>>The Dolly breakthrough heightened speculation that human cloning inevitably would become possible.
Dolly, a Finn Dorset sheep named after the singer Dolly Parton, bred normally on two occasions with a Welsh mountain ram called David, first giving birth to Bonnie in April 1998 and then to three more lambs in 1999.
In 1999, scientists noticed that the cells in Dolly`s body -- cloned from a 6-year-old sheep -- had started to show signs of wear more typical of an older animal.
Then in Jan. 2002, her creators announced she had developed arthritis at the relatively early age of 5 1/2 years, stirring debate over whether cloning procedures might be flawed.
Some geneticists said the finding provided evidence that researchers could not manufacture copies of animals without the original genetic blueprint eventually wearing out.
Dolly`s body has been promised to the National Museum of Scotland and will eventually be put on display in Edinburgh, the Roslin Institute said. <<
So langsam stirbt eines der hoffnungvollsten Biotech-Werte hüberhaupt!!
das interesse der Investoren geht jedenfalls gegen NULL
>>The Dolly breakthrough heightened speculation that human cloning inevitably would become possible.
Dolly, a Finn Dorset sheep named after the singer Dolly Parton, bred normally on two occasions with a Welsh mountain ram called David, first giving birth to Bonnie in April 1998 and then to three more lambs in 1999.
In 1999, scientists noticed that the cells in Dolly`s body -- cloned from a 6-year-old sheep -- had started to show signs of wear more typical of an older animal.
Then in Jan. 2002, her creators announced she had developed arthritis at the relatively early age of 5 1/2 years, stirring debate over whether cloning procedures might be flawed.
Some geneticists said the finding provided evidence that researchers could not manufacture copies of animals without the original genetic blueprint eventually wearing out.
Dolly`s body has been promised to the National Museum of Scotland and will eventually be put on display in Edinburgh, the Roslin Institute said. <<
So langsam stirbt eines der hoffnungvollsten Biotech-Werte hüberhaupt!!
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