More good data from GRNOPC1

Oct 25, 2011 07:31:09 (ET)

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Geron Corporation (GERN, Trade)
today announced data on the use of GRNOPC1, oligodendrocyte progenitors derived from
 human embryonic stem cells, for myelin repair in a non-human primate model. The data supports
 further investigation of the potential therapeutic use of GRNOPC1 in central nervous system
(CNS) disorders where the central or contributing pathology is destructive removal of myelin
 from nerve axons, such as observed in multiple sclerosis (MS), myelitis and spinal cord injury.
 GRNOPC1 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with spinal cord injury.The new
data were presented at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees
 for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, in Amsterdam, by Prof. Jeffery D. Kocsis,
 Ph.D., from Yale University School of Medicine. The work was performed in collaboration
with scientists at Geron.
The studies utilized a non-human primate model where demyelinated lesions, such as seen
in multiple sclerosis, were induced chemically in the spinal cord. GRNOPC1 was injected
 into the demyelinated spinal cord lesions one week after chemical induction. The lesion sites
 from six monkeys were analyzed using light and electron microscopy at various timepoints
 up to one year after injection of GRNOPC1 to look for evidence of cell survival and
remyelination of nerve axons. In the first few weeks  after implantation, the injection sites
contained maturing transplanted cells indicative of a premyelinating phenotype with evidence
 of variable numbers and degrees of remyelinated axons. By four months post implantation,
GRNOPC1 had induced extensive and thick myelin around the formerly denuded axons.
Human cells were detected at the lesion site, providing evidence for survival of
 transplanted GRNOPC1. There was no evidence of abnormal tissue, tumor formation or
other pathologies associated with the injection of GRNOPC1. Neurological exams of the injected
 animals were normal. The data showed in the non-human primate that GRNOPC1 can survive
 at the lesion site and progressively remyelination of axons. "These new data confirm and
extend previous results showing that GRNOPC1 can promote remyelination in rodents and
 non-human primates," said Jane Lebkowski, Ph.D., Geron's Chief Scientific Officer. "These
 results provide  further support for the potential of GRNOPC1 to provide therapeutic
benefit in a number of central nervous system diseases, such as MS and myelitis."
About GRNOPC1
Oligodendrocytes produce myelin, an insulating layer made up of protein and fatty substances
 that forms around nerves in the CNS to enable them to conduct electrical signals. Without
 myelin, many of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord cannot function properly. Oligodendrocytes
 are lost in CNS disorders such as spinal cord injury and MS.
GRNOPC1 contains hESC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells that have demonstrated
remyelinating, nerve growth stimulating and angiogenic properties leading to restoration
 of function in rodent models of acute spinal cord  injury. Non-clinical studies have shown that 

administration of GRNOPC1 seven days after injury significantly improved locomotor activity
and kinematic scores of rats with spinal
About Geron
Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and chronic
degenerative diseases. The company is advancing anti-cancer therapies through multiple
Phase 2 clinical trials in different cancers by targeting the enzyme telomerase and
 with a compound designed to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The company is developing
 cell therapies from differentiated human embryonic stem cells, with the first product in a
Phase 1 clinical trial for spinal cord injury.
 For more information, visit www.geron.com .