Geron Corporation Grants 312,000 Equity Shares to Attract New Talent for Cancer Treatments

Geron Corporation Expands Workforce with New Equity Awards

Geron Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Foster City, California, has recently enhanced its talent pool by granting equity awards totaling 312,000 shares of common stock to three newly hired employees. This strategic move, executed on January 17, 2025, is designed to attract skilled professionals who will contribute to Geron's mission of innovating blood cancer treatments. The equity awards consist of stock options to purchase 208,000 shares at an exercise price of $2.89 per share, aligning with the market value on the grant date. These options come with a 10-year term and are structured to vest over a four-year period, with a quarter of the options vesting after six months, followed by monthly vesting of the remainder.

In addition to stock options, Geron also awards 104,000 shares in restricted stock units (RSUs) to the new hires. These RSUs are set to vest 25% annually on each anniversary of the grant date, further incentivizing long-term engagement and commitment to the company. The issuance of these equity awards complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and follows the guidelines established in Geron’s 2018 Inducement Award Plan. This proactive approach not only supports Geron’s growth strategy but also ensures that the company remains competitive in attracting top-tier talent within the biopharmaceutical sector.

Geron Corporation stands at the forefront of transforming treatment options for blood cancer, especially through its pioneering telomerase inhibitor, RYTELO™ (imetelstat). This drug is already approved in the U.S. for certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) and is currently under evaluation in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with JAK-inhibitor relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis (R/R MF). The company’s innovative strategy targets telomerase activity, which is frequently elevated in malignant stem and progenitor cells, with the goal of reducing their proliferation and promoting cell death.

In addition to the new equity awards, Geron invites interested parties to learn more about its operations and ongoing clinical trials by visiting its website or LinkedIn page. The company’s focus on advancing treatment options highlights its commitment to improving patient outcomes in the challenging landscape of blood cancer therapies.