Restructuring Supports RYTELO® U.S. Commercial Strategy and Investment in Clinical Development Expected to Reduce 2026 Projected Operating Expenses FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to change lives by changing the course of blood cancer, today announced a strategic restructuring plan intended to position the Company for long-term value creation for patients and shareholders and improve its financial d ...

Core Insights - Geron Corporation presented new data at the ASH 2025 Annual Meeting, reinforcing the potential of RYTELO (imetelstat) as a treatment for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) and myelofibrosis (MF) [1][2][4] Group 1: Clinical Efficacy of Imetelstat - Pooled analyses from the IMerge trial suggest that early treatment-emergent cytopenias may correlate with significant clinical outcomes, including hemoglobin increases and transfusion independence in LR-MDS patients [2][4][6] - The data indicate that patients experiencing ≥75% reductions in neutrophils or ≥50% reductions in platelets during the first two cycles of treatment had greater maximum hemoglobin increases compared to those without such reductions [5][6] - Long-term follow-up from the IMerge trial shows favorable trends in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for imetelstat-treated patients compared to placebo, with a median follow-up of 45 months [7][8][9] Group 2: Mechanism of Action and Biological Insights - Imetelstat's mechanism involves telomerase inhibition, which is crucial for the uncontrolled cell division seen in LR-MDS, and the treatment has shown potential disease-modifying properties [19][20] - The correlation between early blood count changes and later improvements in hemoglobin provides valuable insights for clinicians regarding the treatment's biological effects [3][6] Group 3: Additional Studies and Future Directions - Ongoing studies, including the IMproveMF trial, are evaluating the safety and efficacy of imetelstat in combination with ruxolitinib for patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis [13][14] - Preliminary results from the IMpress study indicate that imetelstat has a manageable safety profile in advanced myelodysplastic neoplasms or acute myeloid leukemia patients who are refractory to prior treatments [15][16][17]

Core Insights - Geron Corporation is experiencing a bullish sentiment on Wall Street due to its plans to enhance the commercialization of Rytelo, a medication for anemia [2][3] - The company aims to reposition Rytelo for earlier treatment lines, particularly as a second-line therapy, and will implement strategies to increase physician awareness [2][3] - Despite stagnating sales of approximately $50 million in 2025, Geron is optimistic about significant growth in 2026 [2] Company Overview - Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for blood cancers, specifically myeloid hematologic malignancies [4] - Its primary product, Rytelo (imetelstat), is an approved telomerase inhibitor for certain patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, with ongoing research for its application in other blood cancers [4] Analyst Ratings - Needham analyst Gil Blum has reiterated a Buy rating for Geron with a price target of $4 [3] - Leerink Partners has maintained an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $3 to $2, while expecting the company to take necessary steps to improve Rytelo's performance [3]

Core Insights - Geron Corporation has announced significant executive transitions to align its leadership with strategic priorities, including the appointment of Ahmed ElNawawi as the new Chief Commercial Officer [1][2][3] Leadership Changes - Andrew Grethlein, the current Chief Operating Officer, will transition to a consulting role effective October 15, 2025, after serving since January 2019 [1] - Jim Ziegler, the current Chief Commercial Officer, will also depart on October 15, 2025, to pursue other interests [1] - Ahmed ElNawawi will take over as Chief Commercial Officer on October 20, 2025, focusing on driving growth and maximizing the potential of RYTELO [1][2] New Executive Appointments - Three additional executives have been appointed: - Shanthakumar Tyavanagimatt as Senior Vice President, Chief Technical Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in drug development and technical operations [2][5] - Dawn Schottlandt as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs, with over 20 years in investor relations within the life sciences industry [2][8] - Bryan Ridgell as Senior Vice President, Portfolio and Project Management and Chief of Staff, with extensive experience in program and portfolio management [2][8] Strategic Focus - The new leadership team is expected to enhance Geron's capabilities in commercial, operational, and development areas, particularly in expanding the reach and impact of RYTELO [3][4] - ElNawawi aims to deepen engagement and deliver operational excellence across the business, building on the existing foundation [4] Company Overview - Geron Corporation is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on changing the course of blood cancer, with its first-in-class telomerase inhibitor RYTELO approved for certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes [6]