Geron Announces Commercial Launch of Telomerase-Immortalized Cell Line.MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 8, 1999-- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN v. t. 1. To grin or yawn. ) and Clontech Laboratories, Inc. announced today the launch of the hTERT-RPE1 Cell Line, a human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE RPE Retinal Pigment Epithelium RPE Rating of Perceived Exertion (exercise) RPE Respiratory Protective Equipment RPE Regular Pulse Excitation RPE Registered Professional Engineer RPE Rapid Palatal Expansion ) cell line that stably expresses human telomerase reverse transcriptase Telomerase reverse transcriptase is an enzyme associated with Cri du chat. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein polymerase that maintains telomere ends by addition of the telomere repeat TTAGGG. (hTERT). The hTERT-RPE1 Cell Line is the first cell type to be offered as part of the new Infinity(TM) Telomerase-Immortalized Cell Line product family available from Clontech Laboratories, Inc., under a product marketing agreement with Geron. Telomerase telomerase /telo·mer·ase/ (te-lo´mer-as) a DNA polymerase involved in the formation of telomeres and the maintenance of telomere sequences during replication. te·lom·er·ase n. is an enzyme shown by Geron to confer unlimited replicative capacity to normal cells without causing deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. of normal growth control (Bodnar, et al 1998, Science 279:349-352; Jiang, et al 1999, Nature Genetics 21:111-114; Morales, et al 1999, Nature Genetics 21:115-118). Telomerase-immortalized normal human cell lines provide significant advantages over primary cells and cells transformed with oncogenes oncogenes 1. genes carried by tumor viruses that are directly and solely responsible for the neoplastic transformation of host cells. Many oncogenes function after integration into the DNA of the host cell and some up-regulate normal downstream host cell genes to cause neoplasia. that are routinely used in cell-based research. Normal primary cells have a finite lifespan in culture which has limited their use in research applications. Cells that have been transformed with oncogenes exhibit abnormal gene expression and impaired metabolism which confound the study of various biological mechanisms and limit their effectiveness for drug screening and testing. In contrast, telomerase-immortalized human cells provide stable, uniform cell populations for functional cell-based assays and long-term gene expression studies. Moreover, these immortalized cells can undergo repeated rounds of genetic engineering, thus enhancing their potential utility in biological studies, cell-based drug screens, and drug toxicity testing, as well as cell and gene therapy applications. "Telomerase-immortalized normal human cell lines are a significant step forward for cell-based research in the pharmaceutical industry and provide an attractive replacement for primary and transformed cell lines. Through our alliance with Clontech, we plan to expand the family of Infinity(TM) Cell Lines over the coming months," said Melissa A. Kelly, Geron's director of corporate development. Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products to treat cancer and other age-related chronic degenerative diseases. Geron's technology platform includes the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of telomerase for cancer therapy; telomere telomere /telo·mere/ (tel´o-mer) an extremity of a chromosome, which has specific properties, one of which is a polarity that prevents reunion with any fragment after a chromosome has been broken. and telomerase-based research and diagnostic tools; telomerase activation to extend the replicative lifespan of normal cells; and complementary stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. , gene therapy and nuclear transfer approaches to restore the function of degenerating organs. Clontech Laboratories, Inc., a Becton Dickinson company, develops, manufactures, and markets products for life science research. With over 1,500 products, the company has assembled one of the broadest portfolios of molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller research tools in the industry. The company's products facilitate research analysis in the areas of gene identification, gene expression analysis, functional analysis, and target validation. To order the hTERT-RPE1 Cell Line, please call Clontech at 800/662-2566 (CLON) or 650/424-8222. For additional information, visit Clontech's Web site at http://www.clontech.com. Geron desires to take advantage of the "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Specifically, the company wishes to alert readers that the matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect the company's results is included in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. To receive an index and copies of recent press releases, call Geron's News On Demand toll-free fax service, 800/782-3279. Additional information about Geron Corporation can be obtained at http://www.geron.com. |
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