Geron’s stock price jumps as it reports positive results for myelofibrosis drug

USA-based Geron Corp (Nasdaq: GERN) has boosted its share price with the results of a clinical trial into the safety and efficacy of imetelstat in patients with the blood cancer myelofibrosis (MF).

In November 2012 the Mayo Clinic instigated an open-label study in patients with primary MF, post-essential thrombocythemia MF or post-polycythemia vera MF who have two to three risk factors (intermediate-2) or four or more risk factors (high risk). The primary endpoint was overall response rate, which is defined by the proportion of patients who are classified as "responders", which means that they have achieved either a clinical improvement (CI), partial remission (PR) or complete remission (CR).

Some 33 patients were accrued, with data released on the first 18 patients enrolled and followed for a minimum of three months. Four of these patients (22%) experienced CR with reversal of bone marrow fibrosis and recovery of normal megakaryocyte morphology. Eleven (61%) patients had complete or partial resolution of leukoerythroblastosis. The study concludes: “The current study signifies the potential value of telomerase-based treatment strategies in MF and identifies imetelstat as an active drug in that regard.”