Geron (GERN) Gets Three Patents For Imetelstat In The U.S.

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) announced the issuance of three U.S. patents related to its telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat.

The first patent (U.S. Patent No. 9,375,485) covers imetelstat’s use for alleviating at least one symptom of myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndromes, including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

The other two patents (U.S. Patent No. 9,388,415 and U.S. Patent No. 9,388,416) are related to the methods of using imetelstat to inhibit the activity of telomerase as well as to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. They also include methods for using imetelstat to treat cancer.

The first patent is expected to be valid till at least Mar 2033, while the other two will run through at least Sept 2024.

These patents relate to Geron’s existing patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,494,982) on imetelstat’s composition of matter, which was issued in 2009 and is expected to be valid until at least Dec 2025.

Geron has licensed its portfolio of patents related to imetelstat to Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) company. In Nov 2014, Geron entered into a license and collaboration agreement under which Janssen was granted exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize imetelstat for all human therapeutic uses, including hematologic myeloid malignancies.

Currently, Janssen is conducting two studies on imetelstat – IMbark (phase II) for the treatment of myelofibrosis and IMerge (phase II/III) for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes.

Currently, Geron carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Johnson & Johnson is a better-ranked stock with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably ranked stocks in the health care sector include GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:GWPH) and Innoviva, Inc. (NASDAQ:INVA) . Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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