1. New data on imetelstat indicates potential long-term benefits for LR-MDS patients. 2. Treatment-emergent cytopenias may enhance hemoglobin increases, aiding transfusion independence. 3. Positive survival trends seen in patients using imetelstat suggest differentiation in treatment. 4. Imetelstat shows promise for patients with unmet needs in blood cancer therapies. 5. Detailed analyses connect early cytopenias with improved clinical outcomes for lower-risk MDS.
FAQ
Why Bullish?
The favorable evidence for imetelstat in MDS increases its commercial viability, similar to successful cases with novel drugs in oncology, such as Revlimid for myelodysplastic syndromes.
How important is it?
The continuous accumulation of positive data reinforces imetelstat’s potential, making it crucial for market perception and Geron's financial outlook.
Why Long Term?
As clinical benefits of imetelstat are further validated, it may translate into long-term market growth, akin to treatments that took years to establish strong positions.
Geron Corporation Unveils Promising Data on RYTELO® at ASH 2025
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the treatment of blood cancer, has presented new findings at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The data emphasizes the significance of RYTELO® (imetelstat) and its potential clinical benefits in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelofibrosis (MF).
Insights from the IMerge Trial
The oral presentation highlighted findings from pooled analyses of the IMerge population. These analyses indicate that treatment-emergent cytopenias may signal favorable clinical outcomes, including increases in hemoglobin levels and achieving transfusion independence in patients with lower-risk MDS.
Joseph E. Eid, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Geron, remarked, “These new data confirm our understanding of how imetelstat works and highlight the potential long-term benefit in appropriate patients.” This underscores the role of imetelstat as a vital treatment option for those with lower-risk MDS.
Clinical Associations with Treatment-Emergent Cytopenias
Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, from Yale School of Medicine, presented findings that suggest early treatment-emergent neutropenia and thrombocytopenia may correlate with greater hemoglobin increases. This correlation appears to be a principal factor contributing to red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI).
- Patients exhibiting ≥75% reductions in neutrophils or ≥50% reductions in platelets during the first two cycles of imetelstat experienced greater hemoglobin increases.
- The analyses demonstrated consistent associations, where early cytopenias were linked to improved hemoglobin levels.
Long-Term Outcomes and Survival Trends
Further poster presentations at ASH 2025 detailed long-term outcomes of imetelstat, with a focus on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for patients treated in the IMerge trial.
At a median follow-up of 45 months, there was a favorable trend observed in OS and PFS among patients treated with imetelstat compared to those receiving placebo. Notably, the imetelstat group showed improved outcomes across various predefined subgroups.
Exploring Biomarker Analysis in Myelofibrosis
The findings also extended to patients with myelofibrosis. A poster reported significant correlations between levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-alpha and overall survival among those treated with imetelstat in the IMbark trial. These findings suggest that imetelstat may modulate cytokine levels, contributing to enhanced clinical activity and reinforcing its potential as a disease-modifying treatment.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The data presented underscores the therapeutic promise of RYTELO® (imetelstat) for patients with lower-risk MDS and its potential application in treating myelofibrosis. As research continues, Geron Corporation remains committed to exploring the full scope of telomerase inhibition in hematologic malignancies. The continuous positive outcomes amplify the case for imetelstat as a transformative treatment option.