Geron

What Geron does

Geron Corporation is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Foster City, California, founded in 1990 and publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker GERN. The company develops and commercializes innovative therapies for hematologic malignancies based on telomerase inhibition, a mechanism originating from Nobel Prize-winning discoveries by Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak. Geron's sole approved and commercialized product is RYTELO (imetelstat), a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor oligonucleotide approved by the FDA in June 2024 and by the European Commission in March 2025 for the treatment of adults with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia.

The company's revenue is generated entirely from RYTELO product sales, distributed through specialty pharmacy channels and a direct field sales force targeting hematologists and oncologists across approximately 1,450 prescribing accounts in the United States, with European expansion underway. FY2025 RYTELO revenue was $183.6 million, more than doubling from $76.5 million in FY2024, and Q1 2026 revenue reached $51.8 million (+31% YoY), with FY2026 guidance of $220-240 million. The product pipeline extends imetelstat into myelofibrosis (Phase 3 IMpactMF, Phase 1 IMproveMF), AML, and high-risk MDS (Phase 2 IMpress, Phase 1/2 IMAGINE), supported by 8 company-sponsored clinical trials and more than 10 investigator-sponsored studies. The business is funded by $341 million in liquidity (including a $250M BioPharma Credit term loan facility and a prior $150M underwritten equity offering), providing approximately 2.7 years of cash runway.

Recent corporate actions include a December 2025 strategic restructuring reducing headcount by approximately one-third (from 260 to ~175), the appointment of Harout Semerjian as President and CEO in August 2025, and the installation of a largely new executive team spanning commercial, technical, legal, and corporate development functions. RYTELO's inclusion in NCCN Guidelines as a preferred second-line option for LR-MDS supports adoption, while the company's first-in-class status and dual US/EU regulatory approvals form the foundation of its competitive position. Geron operates as a single-product, multi-indication biopharmaceutical company with a concentrated asset base and an expanding geographic and clinical footprint.

Name

Geron

Legal name

Geron Corporation

Website

https://geron.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Geron Corporation is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets RYTELO (imetelstat), a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor approved in the US and EU for adults with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and transfusion-dependent anemia, serving hematologists and oncologists through specialty pharmacy and direct sales channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics (HLAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Telomerase inhibition therapy
• Myelodysplastic syndromes treatment
• Hematologic malignancy drugs
• Oncology biopharmaceutical products
• Imetelstat cancer therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Foster City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. RYTELO (imetelstat) Product Sales: Commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company generating revenue from sales of its FDA and EU-approved drug RYTELO for lower-risk MDS with transfusion-dependent anemia. Revenue grew from $76.5M in 2024 to $183.6M in 2025, with Q1 2026 revenue of $51.8M showing 31% year-over-year growth. 2026 guidance: $220-240 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Geron is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes RYTELO (imetelstat), a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor approved in the U.S. and EU for treating adults with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia. The company also has an active clinical pipeline exploring imetelstat in additional hematologic malignancies including myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukemia.

Product overview

Geron is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative medicines for hematologic malignancies. The company's sole approved product is RYTELO (imetelstat), a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor approved for treating adults with lower-risk MDS with transfusion-dependent anemia in both the U.S. (approved June 2024) and EU (approved March 2025). The product pipeline includes multiple clinical trials exploring imetelstat in additional indications: IMpactMF (Phase 3 in relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis), IMproveMF (Phase 1 combination with ruxolitinib in frontline myelofibrosis), IMpress (Phase 2 in AML/high-risk MDS), and IMAGINE (Phase 1/2 in relapsed/refractory AML). Geron operates as a single-product company with its commercial focus on expanding RYTELO uptake and pursuing additional regulatory approvals for the broader myelofibrosis indication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RYTELO: RYTELO (imetelstat) is the company's FDA and EU-approved first-in-class telomerase inhibitor for treating adults with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia.
• IMpactMF
• IMproveMF
• IMpress
• IMAGINE

Products and services

• RYTELO (imetelstat) RYTELO is a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia. It is approved for use in both the United States (FDA, June 2024) and European Union (European Commission, March 2025) and is prescribed by hematologists and oncologists and dispensed through specialty pharmacy networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37.5% red blood cell transfusion independence rate lasting at least 8 weeks in heavily pretreated LR-MDS patients
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bristol-Myers Squibb: BMS markets REBLOZYL (luspatercept), the most direct approved competitor to RYTELO in lower-risk MDS, as well as fedratinib in myelofibrosis and a broad hematology/oncology portfolio. Competes with Geron across overlapping patient populations and physician call points.
• GSK plc: GSK acquired Sierra Oncology and markets momelotinib (OMJJARA) for myelofibrosis, directly competing with imetelstat's IMpactMF indication in JAK inhibitor relapsed/refractory MF. Both companies target the same post-JAK inhibitor patient population.
• AbbVie: AbbVie acquired Pharmacyclics and markets IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) in hematologic malignancies, with deep heme-onc commercial infrastructure and prescribers overlapping with Geron's RYTELO target audience. Represents the kind of large incumbent that could pursue assets adjacent to Geron's pipeline.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb (Celgene legacy): Through the Celgene acquisition, BMS markets VIDAZA (azacitidine) and other MDS therapies, making it a historical incumbent in MDS treatment. Geron's IMpress and IMAGINE trials test imetelstat in combination or in settings where azacitidine is standard of care.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Takeda has a sizable hematology franchise including ADCETRIS and broader oncology infrastructure. Comparable as a major heme-onc player that overlaps with Geron's prescriber base and could pursue adjacent indications.
• Pfizer: Pfizer maintains a significant hematology and oncology franchise post-Seagen acquisition, with deep heme-onc commercial reach and clinical development capacity that overlaps with Geron's customer base. Represents a potential strategic acquirer or competitor depending on indication overlap.

Direct peers

• Incyte Corporation: Incyte markets ruxolitinib (JAKAFI), the standard of care for myelofibrosis and a key backbone in frontline MF treatment where imetelstat is being tested in combination (IMproveMF). Competes with Geron for the same heme-onc prescribers and in overlapping MF development programs.

Emerging players

• Disc Medicine: Disc Medicine is a clinical-stage hematology company developing therapeutics for hematologic diseases including MDS and other anemias. Comparable in stage and indication overlap, with potential to compete for the same physician audience and addressable patient population.
• Forma Therapeutics: Forma Therapeutics (now part of Novo Nordisk) developed etavopivat for sickle cell disease and other rare hematologic conditions. Comparable as a focused rare hematology drug developer with similar target physician audience and rare disease commercial model.
• Karyopharm Therapeutics: Karyopharm commercializes XPOVIO (selinexor) in multiple myeloma and is exploring hematology indications. Comparable as a small-cap hematology-focused commercial-stage biopharma with a single primary asset and similar commercialization dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/geron

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors13 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Geron