Approved

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on YouTube
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(00:00:00) - Introduction 
(00:01:19) - Hayflick Limit 
(00:08:30) - Michael West & Founding of Geron 
(00:15:16) - Early Science & IP Strategy 
(00:27:25) - Cloning the Telomerase Gene 
(00:29:30) - Embryonic Stem Cells & Political Context 
(00:44:21) - Okarma, West’s Departure & Corporate Turmoil 
(01:05:08) - Spinal Cord Injury Trial 
(01:30:45) - Pivot to Blood Cancer 
(01:43:08) - Clinical & Commercial Drama
(02:01:45) - Legacy & Lessons
CREDITS
Co-hosted by Alex Kesin and Matthew Pech
Written, edited, and produced by Alex Kesin
Music: “Food” by nerowski
* Special thanks to the team at NFX for the use of their recording studio.
SOURCES
Last updated: March 2026
I. BOOKS
Hall, Stephen S. Merchants of Immortality: Chasing the Dream of Human Life Extension. Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
Williams, Tory. Inevitable Collision: The Inspiring Story That Brought Stem Cell Research to Conservative America.Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2014.
II. KEY SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Hayflick, L. & Moorhead, P.S. “The serial cultivation of human diploid cell strains.” Experimental Cell Research 25 (1961): 585–621.
Kim, N.W. et al. “Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer.” Science 266, no. 5193 (1994): 2011–2015.
Feng, J. et al. “The RNA component of human telomerase.” Science 269, no. 5228 (1995): 1236–1241.
Nakamura, T.M. et al. “Telomerase catalytic subunit homologs from fission yeast and human.” Science 277, no. 5328 (1997): 955–959.
Meyerson, M. et al. “hEST2, the putative human telomerase catalytic subunit gene, is up-regulated in tumor cells and during immortalization.” Cell 90, no. 4 (1997): 785–795.
Bodnar, A.G. et al. “Extension of life-span by introduction of telomerase into normal human cells.” Science 279, no. 5349 (1998): 349–352.
Thomson, J.A. et al. “Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts.” Science 282, no. 5391 (1998): 1145–1147.
Asai, A. et al. “A novel telomerase template antagonist (GRN163) as a potential anticancer agent.” Cancer Research 63, no. 14 (2003): 3931–3939. 
Herbert, B-S et al. “Effect of the lipid modification of GRN163.” Nature: Oncogene 24 (2005): 5765–5772. 
Baerlochr, G. et al. “A pilot study of the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat for myelofibrosis.” New England Journal of Medicine 373 (2015): 908–919. 
Platzbecker, U. et al. “Imetelstat in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes who have relapsed or are refractory to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (IMerge).” The Lancet (2024).
Lennox, A.L et al. “Imetelstat, a novel, first-in-class telomerase inhibitor: Mechanism of action, clinical, and translational science.” Clinical and Translational Science 17, no. 11 (2024).
Scott, C. & Magnus, D. “Wrongful Termination: Lessons From the Geron Clinical Trial” Stem Cell Reports 3, no. 5 (2014): 721–723. 
III. REGULATORY & CLINICAL
Prescribing Information (Label) U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “RYTELO (imetelstat) for injection: Highlights of Prescribing Information.” NDA 217779. June 2024. 
NDA Approval Letter U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “NDA Approval Letter: RYTELO (imetelstat) for injection.” NDA 217779. June 6, 2024. 
Multi-Discipline Review & Evaluation U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “NDA Multi-Disciplinary Review and Evaluation: RYTELO (imetelstat).” NDA 217779Orig1s000. 2024. 
ODAC Briefing Document U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FDA Briefing Document: Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting, NDA 217779, Imetelstat.” March 14, 2024. 
REMS/Risk Assessment Review U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation Review: RYTELO (imetelstat).” NDA 217779Orig1s000. 2024. 
Kim, N. et al. “US Food and Drug Administration Approval Summary: Imetelstat for Selected Patients With Low- to Intermediate-1 Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes With Transfusion-Dependent Anemia.” The Oncologist (2025). PMID: 41135032.
FDA. “FDA Approves Imetelstat for Low- to Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Transfusion-Dependent Anemia.” June 2024.
ICER. “Evidence Report: Treatment for Anemia in Myelodysplastic Syndrome.” August 2024. 
ICER. Press Release on Imetelstat Evidence Assessment. 
ClinicalTrials.gov. GRNOPC1 Phase I Trial. NCT01217008. 
Myelodysplastic Syndrome Epidemiology. PMC4553145.
MDS Risk and AML Progression. Blood (2023). 
IV. CORPORATE FILINGS & PRESENTATIONS
Geron Corporation. S-1 Registration Statement (1996 IPO). 
Geron Corporation. Corporate presentations archive (2012–present). 
Geron Corporation. 2012 R&D Strategy Presentation. 
Geron Corporation. 2013 NSCLC Study Results. 
Geron Corporation. 2015 Janssen/MF Collaboration Presentation. (p.41-)
Geron Corporation. 2016 Mechanism of Action Analysis (thrombocytopenia/TLR9). 
Royalty Pharma. “Royalty Pharma to Acquire Royalty Interest in Geron’s Rytelo for $125 Million.” November 2024. 
V. NEWS & MEDIA COVERAGE
[1994] New York Times. “Immortality Enzyme Is Discovered in Many Types of Cancer.” December 27, 1994. 
[1995] New York Times. “New Light Shed on How Enzyme May Play Crucial Role in Cancer.” September 5, 1995. 
[1996] New Yorker. “The New Age of Man.” September 30, 1996. 
[1996] Bio.net Ageing Forum. Geron financing announcements. 
[1996] Bio.net Ageing Forum. Geron NCI/SBIR grants. 
[1996] Bio.net Ageing Forum. Kyowa Hakko deal. 
[1996] Bio.net Ageing Forum. Kyowa Hakko deal details. 
[1996] BioWorld. Geron IPO news. 
[1998] ScienceDaily. “Human Embryonic Stem Cells Successfully Derived.” November 9, 1998. 
[1998] New York Times. “Scientists Cultivate Cells at Root of Human Life.” November 6, 1998. 
[1998] New York Times. “Essay: Immortality, of a Sort, Beckons to Biologists.” November 17, 1998. 
[1999] Dooling, Richard. “Diary of an Immortal Man.” Published on KurzweilAI.net, May 1999. 
[2000] Wired. “Embryonic Cell Debate Is On.” August 2000. 
[2001] New York Times. “Public Lives: Cell Biologist Traded Religious Fervor for Scientific Zeal.” August 13, 2001
[2001] WARF. “WARF Amends Stem Cell Suit.” 
[2001] USCCB. “Human Embryo Research Is Illegal, Immoral, and Unnecessary.” 
[2002] Forbes. Stem cell coverage, January 31, 2002. 
[2004] Nature Reviews - Telomere biology and cancer. 
[2004] New York Times. “Cloning, Stem Cells: Medical and Ethical Issues Cloud Cloning for Therapy.” February 13, 2004. 
[2004] Seattle University School of Law. “Geron and stem cell ethics.” 
[2005] PharmaTimes. “Geron Leaps on Merck Deal.” 
[2008] Gitschier, J. “Interview with James Thomson.” PLoS Genetics (2008). 
[2010] New York Times. A First For Stem Cell Use In Therapy. October 11, 2010.
[2011] Forbes (Matthew Herper). “Stem Cell Innovator James Thomson Says Geron Blazed Trail.” November 15, 2011. 
[2011] Washington Post. “First Patient to Get Stem Cell Therapy Is Identified.” April 2, 2011. 
[2011] Washington Post. “Stem Cells Were God’s Will, Says First Recipient of Treatment.” April 14, 2011. 
[2011] New York Times. Michael West / BioTime profile. May 19, 2011. 
[2011] New York Times. “Geron Is Shutting Down Its Stem Cell Clinical Trial.” November 15, 2011. 
[2011] The Guardian. “Geron Abandons Stem Cell Therapy.” November 15, 2011. 
[2011] Science. “Geron Bails Out of Stem Cells.” 
[2011] The Hastings Center. “Geron’s Discontinued Stem Cell Trial: What About the Research Participants?” 
[2011] CIRM. “Geron Discontinues Stem Cell Program.” November 14, 2011. 
[2013] The Scientist. “Geron’s Stem Cell Program Sold.” (Asterias/BioTime acquisition). 
[2013] The Niche (Paul Knoepfler). Interview with BioTime CEO Michael West, Part 1. 
[2013] The Niche. Interview with Mike West, Part 2: Geron hESC. 
[2013] The Niche. Interview with Mike West, Part 3: Key Flaw in Stem Cell Field. 
[2013] The Niche. “BioTime Subsidiary Asterias Acquires Geron Embryonic Stem Cell Program.” 
[2013] Nature Medicine. “No End in Sight for Telomerase-Targeted Cancer Drugs.” January 2013. 
[2016] USC Health Sciences. Kris Boesen stem cell recovery. 
[2016] The Niche. “Asterias Interview: Stem Cell Spinal Cord Injury Trials Advance.” December 2016. 
[2018] FierceBiotech. “Geron Craters as Janssen Bows Out of Imetelstat Pact Once Worth Up to $935M.” September 2018. 
[2018] STAT News (Adam Feuerstein). “Geron Warning Signs.” September 27, 2018. 
[2018] GlobeNewsWire. “Asterias Provides Update for AST-OPC1 Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial.” February 28, 2018. 
[2023] Pharmaphorum. “Geron Finally Gets Close to a Product Approval with Imetelstat.” 
[2023] STAT News. “Geron Success in Myelodysplastic Syndromes.” January 4, 2023. 
[2024] Reuters. “US FDA Staff Flags Concerns About Geron’s Anemia Treatment.” March 12, 2024. 
[2024] BioPharma Dive. “Geron Approval, Blood Disorder, Nobel Prize, Imetelstat.” 
[2024] STAT News. “I Was Wrong About Geron’s Blood Cancer Drug. Now, Is It a Takeover Target?” March 18, 2024. 
[2024] CIRM Blog. “Where Are They Now: Jake Javier.” August 19, 2024. 
[2024] Christopher Reeve Foundation. “Pioneering Cell Transplants for the Treatment of SCI.” 
[2024] Oncology Pipeline / ApexOnco. “Seven Problems Geron.” 
[2024] AInvest. “Geron Navigating Legal Headwinds, Rytelo Commercial Crossroads.” 
[2025] BiotechNation. “No More Transfusions: Dr. John Scarlett, CEO of Geron Corporation.” 
[2025] PharmaVoice. “Geron’s Harout Semerjian on Drug Approval and Pharma.” 
[2025] Investing.com. “Geron at Stifel 2025 Healthcare Conference: Strategic Adjustments for Rytelo.” 
[2025] SFGate. “Geron Lays Off Third of Staff.” 
[2025] Fierce Pharma. “Geron to Lay Off 13% of Workforce to Slash Operating Costs.” 
[2025] PharmaTimes. PCSK9 inhibitor launch comparison. https://pharmatimes.com/web_exclusives/are_pcsk9_inhibitors_about_to_take_off_1289184/
VI. BROADCAST & VIDEO COVERAGE
CBS News, 60 Minutes. Ed Bradley segment on Geron stem cell rat study (~2006).
YouTube. Geron documentary (2003). 
CNBC Mad Money. Geron coverage: July 2009. 
CNBC Squawk on the Street. Geron stock down: August 2009. 
KCSM Newsline. Embryonic stem cells: October 2010. 
C-SPAN Weekend. Okarma interview: October 2010. 
KPIX CBS 5. “First Time Ever Stem Cell Injection Spinal Cord.” October 2010. 
KGO ABC World News. Stem cell coverage: October 2010. 
KPIX CBS 5. Geron layoffs, pivot to cancer: November 2011. 
KTVU Fox 2. Geron cancels spinal cord study, patient interview: December 2011. 
CNBC Squawk on the Street. Breast cancer study halted: September 2012. 
KCSM Newsline. ACT vision stem cells: January 2012. 
CNBC Street Signs. Geron stock up on cancer study: November 2013. 
CNBC Squawk on the Street. Hold lifted after hepatotoxicity: June 2014. 
CNBC Street Signs. Geron up 60% on J&J deal: December 2014. 
CNBC Mad Money. Geron coverage: May 2018. 
CNBC Power Lunch. J&J leaves deal: September 2018. 
YouTube. Michael D. West, Longevity Summit Dublin (2022). 
CNBC Mad Money. Geron coverage: March 2023. 


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.approved.fm

What is Approved?

Life sciences, under the hood. Deep dives into the patent filings, regulatory gauntlets, and capital-risks that shape the business of biology.