Geron Announces New Board Leadership Structure
December 31 2018 - 7:30AM
CEO John A. Scarlett Appointed Chairman
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today announced changes to the
leadership structure of the Company’s Board of Directors. For
personal reasons, effective December 26, 2018, Hoyoung Huh, M.D.,
Ph.D., has resigned from the Board, including his roles as Chairman
of the Board and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. Dr. Huh has served as Chairman of the Board
since September 2011, and as a member of the Board since May 2010.
Dr. Huh’s resignation is not due to any disagreement on matters
relating to the Company’s future prospects, operations, policies or
practices.
“Although I am resigning as a board member from all my public
companies, including Geron, to pursue several personal objectives,
I am optimistic about imetelstat’s promising future in hematologic
myeloid malignancies as it moves into Phase 3 clinical development
and potential commercialization,” said Dr. Huh. The Company
plans to commence the Phase 3 portion of its IMerge clinical trial
in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes by mid-year 2019.
“We are very grateful to Hoyoung for his long service to Geron’s
Board, where he has provided insightful strategic leadership, as
well as strong support for the Company’s programs and development
initiatives,” said John A. Scarlett, Geron’s President and Chief
Executive Officer.
Effective December 27, 2018, the Board has appointed John A.
Scarlett, M.D., to serve as Chairman of the Board, in addition to
his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Also effective December 27, 2018, the Board has appointed Karin
Eastham, who has served on Geron’s Board since 2009, to serve as
Lead Independent Director for the Board. Ms. Eastham will also
retain her roles as Chairperson of the Company’s Audit Committee
and a member of the Compensation Committee. As Lead Independent
Director, Ms. Eastham will provide active leadership on behalf of
the independent directors of the Board.
About Geron
Geron is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
the development and potential commercialization of a first-in-class
telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, in hematologic myeloid
malignancies. For more information about Geron, visit
www.geron.com.
Use of Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this
press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such statements,
include, without limitation, those regarding plans that the Phase 3
portion of IMerge will commence by mid-year 2019 and other
statements that are not historical facts, constitute
forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially
from those in such forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties, include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties
related to: (i) whether regulatory authorities permit the further
development of imetelstat on a timely basis, or at all, to enable
patient screening and enrollment of the Phase 3 portion of IMerge
to commence by mid-year 2019; (ii) whether imetelstat is safe and
efficacious, and whether any past or future efficacy or safety
results may cause the benefit-risk profile of imetelstat to become
unacceptable; and (iii) whether the transition of the imetelstat
program from Janssen Biotech, Inc. to the Company proceeds on a
timely basis to enable the Phase 3 portion of IMerge to commence by
mid-year 2019. Additional information on the above risks and
uncertainties and additional risks, uncertainties and factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements are contained in Geron’s periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the heading “Risk Factors,” including Geron’s
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 2018. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the
facts and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements may
change. Except as required by law, Geron disclaims any obligation
to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future
information, events or circumstances.
CONTACT:
Suzanne MessereInvestor and Media
Relationsinvestor@geron.commedia@geron.com
CG Capital877-889-1972
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