Claim: Geron shares fall after cancer drug study update.
Verdict: SUPPORTS

Retrieved passages:
title: Human embryonic stem cells clinical trials
text: the current environment of capital scarcity and uncertain economic conditions, we intend to focus our resources on advancing our two novel and promising oncology drug candidates." The company's stocks fell dramatically to $1.50 per share from $2.28 per share when news of the trial's discontinuation became public. A spokesperson for the company said that Geron would save money by ending the trial despite the loss in investors. Because many believed Geron's trial offered hope for advancing knowledge related to stem cells and their potential uses, there was disappointment in the scientific community when the trial was cut short. An article

title: Human embryonic stem cells clinical trials
text: will continue to monitor participants for fifteen years. Although no official results from the trial have been published, preliminary results from the clinical trial were presented at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) conference in October 2011. None of the participants experienced serious adverse events, although nausea and low magnesium were reported. In addition, no changes to the spinal cord or neurological condition were found. After investing millions of dollars in the research leading up to this trial, Geron Corporation discontinued the study in November 2011 to focus on cancer research. John Scarlett, Geron's chief executive officer, said "In

title: Kalos Therapeutics
text: effects associated with chemotherapeutic or small molecule compounds. KT-220, the current lead drug candidate, demonstrates remarkably broad anti-cancer activity. KT-220 has inhibited the growth of pancreatic, lung, prostate, breast, ovarian, colon, and melanoma cells in culture and of pancreatic, breast, and lung cancer tumors in models of human cancer. George Colberg - Chairman & CEO James Merritt, M.D. - President and Chief Medical Officer Gregory F. Witchel, MBA - Executive Vice President Daniel Von Hoff, MD, FACP - Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board David L. Vesely, MD, PhD - Scientific Advisory Board Marc B. Garnick, MD - Scientific Advisory Board Patrice

title: Geron Corporation
text: Greider, and Leonard Hayflick, known for discovering that human cells divide for a limited number of times "in vitro" (called the Hayflick limit). In 2017, Geron staff received the highest median pay in California, at $500,250. Geron Corporation has sponsored human clinical trials of several anti-cancer products. In 2014 Geron exclusively licensed imetelstat to Janssen Biotech. This partnership was ended by Janssen on Sep 28th, 2018. In addition to testing drug candidates that exploit cancer cell's dependence on telomerase, Geron is researching the possible applications of activating the enzyme in normal cells to delay cellular senescence. The company is in

title: Geron Corporation
text: the early stages of developing a telomerase based treatment for HIV called TAT0002, which is the saponin cycloastragenol in Chinese herb Astragalus propinquus. Geron has granted a license to Telomerase Activation Sciences to sell TA-65, the telomerase activator agent also derived from astragalus. In October 2010 Intertek/AAC Labs, an ISO 17025 internationally recognized lab, found the largest component of TA-65 to be Cycloastragenol. Geron originally investigated telomerase as a means of understanding and modifying human aging. However, Geron has ceased aging research of any kind. On January 23, 2009, Geron received FDA approval to begin Phase I testing of GRNOPC1

title: Breast cancer
text: this possible risk. In breast cancer survivors, it is recommended to first consider non-hormonal options for menopausal effects, such as bisphosphonates or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for osteoporosis, and vaginal estrogen for local symptoms. Observational studies of systemic hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer are generally reassuring. If hormone replacement is necessary after breast cancer, estrogen-only therapy or estrogen therapy with an intrauterine device with progestogen may be safer options than combined systemic therapy. Treatments are being evaluated in trials. This includes individual drugs, combinations of drugs, and surgical and radiation techniques Investigations include new types of targeted therapy,

title: Geriatric oncology
text: the most rapidly growing group. This is compounded by the fact that the majority of cancer patients will be in this age group. Age in itself is one of the most important risk factors for developing cancer. Currently, 60% of newly diagnosed malignant tumors and 70% of cancer deaths occur in people aged 65 years or older. Many cancers are linked to aging; these include breast, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, lung, bladder and stomach cancers. Because most non-pediatric cancer patients are older, there is a saying that all oncologists who are not pediatric oncologists are geriatric oncologists. For many reasons, older

title: Geron Corporation
text: Geron Corporation Geron Corporation is a biotechnology company located in Menlo Park, California, which specializes in developing and commercializing therapeutic products for cancer that inhibit telomerase. Geron, based in Menlo Park, California, was founded by Mary C. West and Michael D. West, now CEO of BioTime. They secured initial venture capital investments in the company from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Venrock. The company was incorporated in 1990 and began doing business in 1992. John A. Scarlett was appointed CEO in 2011. The company's Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board has included Nobel laureates James Watson, Gunter Blobel, and Carol

title: Michael D. West
text: ACT later changed its name to Ocata Therapeutics, and was acquired by Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma for US$379M or $8.50 per share in February 2016. Prior that, West was founder, director, and Chief Scientific officer of Geron, for which he secured venture capital investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Venrock and Domain Associates. At Geron, West initiated and managed programs in telomere biology relating to aging, cancer and human embryonic stem cell technology. West organized the first collaborative effort to isolate human pluripotent (embryonic) stem cells for the purpose of manufacturing products in regenerative medicine in collaboration with

title: Geron Corporation
text: six to 10 cells in a few months. In Oct 2011 updated results on 4 patients were released. The trial was discontinued in Nov 2011. In early 2013 BioTime, whose CEO is Geron founder Michael D. West, acquired 400 patents and other intellectual property related to embryonic stem cells from Geron and later went on to restart the trial. Geron Corporation initially held exclusive rights to three cell types derived from embryonic stem cells, as the result of paying for the research originally conducted by Dr. James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The patents on the other three cell

title: Geron Corporation
text: preserve cloning for therapeutic purposes. Geron Corporation Geron Corporation is a biotechnology company located in Menlo Park, California, which specializes in developing and commercializing therapeutic products for cancer that inhibit telomerase. Geron, based in Menlo Park, California, was founded by Mary C. West and Michael D. West, now CEO of BioTime. They secured initial venture capital investments in the company from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Venrock. The company was incorporated in 1990 and began doing business in 1992. John A. Scarlett was appointed CEO in 2011. The company's Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board has included Nobel laureates James

title: Geir Bjørklund
text: the study was started. The average survival of high-risk breast patients in the study was 50% after five years, whereas for low-risk breast cancer patients (without metastases in the axilla when treatment was started), the average survival was 90% after ten years. The main investigator died, and the final report from the ANICA study was therefore never written. However, the published preliminary results from the trial were very promising; it seems, therefore, important to follow-up this study. Bjørklund and collaborators have studied the pharmacological effects of melatonin in cancer prevention. Other fields of Geir Bjørklund's interest and research also include

title: Geron Corporation
text: 80% of the mice given GRNIC1 were still alive in 50 days while the entire control group, which was given no treatment, perished. Geron sold its human stem cell research assets to Asterias in 2013. As of October 2010 and November 2010, One of Geron's most highly publicized trial therapy products has been GRNOPC1, a stem cell therapy designed to heal severe spinal cord injuries. The cells in the GRNOPC1 therapy have been coaxed into becoming early myelinated glial cells, a type of cell that insulates nerve cells. For every GRNOPC1 cell that is injected in the patient, they become

title: Women's Health Initiative
text: estrogen-plus-progestin trial, there was a sharp decrease in breast cancer risk in the early post-intervention period, though the hazard ratio remained greater than 1, followed by a sustained risk during the late post-intervention period that was significantly greater than 1. It is hypothesized that the initial decrease was due to the resulting change in the hormone environment, while the subsequent persistent increase in breast cancer incidence may be attributed to the persistence of oncogenic mutations and subsequent expansion of these mutation-harboring cell lineages. In contrast, breast cancer risk was significantly lower for the estrogen-alone group compared to placebo during the

title: Geron Corporation
text: types are owned by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). WARF and Geron did not charge academics to study human stem cells but did charge commercial users. In 2001 WARF came under public pressure to widen access to human stem-cell technology, and they launched legal action against Geron Corporation to recover some of the previously sold rights. The two sides agreed that Geron would keep the rights to only three cell types. In October 2006, a legal challenge was mounted to overturn these patents by The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the non-profit patent-watchdog Public Patent Foundation. They

title: Geriatric oncology
text: with cognitive dysfunction related to age, and general diminution of organ function that occurs naturally in the older population. For these reasons, it is important that older patients (especially if frail, or have multiple medical problems) being considered for cancer treatment should undergo comprehensive geriatric assessment, to take all these factors into account. Rosemary Yancik first organized a symposium on geriatric oncology sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Aging. A 1988 ASCO Presidential Address published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Dr. B.J. Kennedy encouraged the study of aging and cancer. The American Society

title: Human embryonic stem cells clinical trials
text: through three phases of research before a drug can be marketed to the public. In Phase I trials, the drug's safety is tested on a small group of participants. The drug's effectiveness is tested during Phase II trials with a larger number of participants. Phase III trials, involving 1,000- 3,000 participants, analyze effectiveness, determine side effects and compare the outcomes of the new drug to similar drugs on the market. An additional phase, Phase IV, is included to continually gain information after a drug is on the market. Geron's IND application for the GRNOPC1 clinical trial, nearly 28,000 pages in

title: Cancer prevention
text: CAPS (colorectal adenoma prevention), enrollment for prostate cancer trial, NCI international breast cancer screening workshop 1994 - ATBC results show causal relationship between beta-carotene and lung cancer incidence in male Fins 1996 - ASCUS/LSIL Triage Study (HPV testing) 1997 - DCP and DCCPS splits from DCPC 1998 - Tamoxifen decreases breast cancer (Fisher?) 1999 - EDRN (early detection research network) and RAPID (access to prevention) established 1999 - Tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR) clinical trials began, APC (adenoma celecoxib trial) Due to technological advancements, improved detection of biomarkers, and increased public and governmental support for cancer prevention research, the 21st century

title: Bernadine Healy
text: a $625 million effort to study the causes, prevention, and cures of diseases that affect women at midlife and beyond. The study continues to unearth critical information, including evidence in 2002 that combined hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of invasive breast cancers by 26% and heart attack by 27% as well as an increased risk for stroke. The study's findings have resulted in a permanent 15% annual reduction in invasive estrogen positive breast cancer in post menopausal women in the U.S.; The HRT (hormone replacement) drug market in the United States simultaneously dropped by 50% to $1 billion, twelve

title: Risk factors for breast cancer
text: relative risk of breast cancer of 1.35 for women who had used HRT for 5 or more years after menopause. The estrogen-plus-progestin arm of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a randomized controlled trial, which randomized more than 16,000 postmenopausal women to receive combined hormone therapy or placebo, was halted early (2002) because health risks exceeded benefits. One of the adverse outcomes prompting closure was a significant increase in both total and invasive breast cancers (hazard ratio = 1.24) in women randomized to receive estrogen and progestin for an average of 5 years. HRT-related breast cancers had adverse prognostic characteristics (more