Click here to read the transcript of an interview with Dr. Okarma (above) on PBS' NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In the informative interview, Dr. Okarma tells why stem cells "grow forever" and also the role of the enzyme telomerase in this process. |
Wednesday, March 11th, 2002 2:06AM BREAKING NEWS |
Dr. Thomas Okarma Is A Leader In Human Stem-Cell Research And Gene Therapy FROM A PRESS RELEASE The Triangle TechJournal: March 11th, 2002 www.triangletechjournal.com RTP - Dr. Thomas Okarma, CEO of Geron Corporation, was announced as the keynote speaker for the largest biotech event in the Southeast -- Biotech 2002, which is scheduled for May 20th at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in RTP. Geron is a publicly traded company headquartered in Menlo Park, California and was the first company to focus exclusively on the biology of aging and the development of therapeutic products for age-related diseases, such as cancer. Geron's therapies are based on three patented technologies -- telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer. "Dr. Okarma and Geron have been at the forefront of human embryonic stem cell research, and we felt that he was in a unique position to place these controversial, ethical issues in context," said Ford Worthy, senior vice president of life sciences venture fund A. M. Pappas & Associates, and co-chair of Biotech 2002. "The fact that Geron is in collaborations with MERIX Bioscience of Pittsboro, NC and has clinical trials underway at Duke, also speaks highly of the biotech industry in North Carolina," Worthy added. About Dr. Okarma and Geron Dr. Okarma was appointed President and CEO of Geron Corporation in July, 1999. He served as Geron's Vice President of Research and Development in 1998 and Vice President of Cell Therapies in 1997. Before joining Geron Corporation in 1997, Dr. Okarma was a senior vice president at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer. In 1995, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer acquired Applied Immune Sciences, Inc. (AIS) which was founded by Dr. Okarma in 1985. By the time of its acquisition by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, AIS was in advanced cell therapy human clinical trials in cancer and bone marrow transplantation and in early gene therapy human trials in breast cancer. Dr. Okarma was CEO of AIS from 1991 until its acquisition. Prior to founding AIS, Dr. Okarma was a member of the faculty of the Stanford University School of Medicine where he also received his PhD and MD degrees. He is the author of over 50 publications on cell and gene therapy with numerous patents in the field. Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine About Biotech 2002 Dr. Okarma will be starting the Biotech conference off with a keynote address as well as participating on the Stem Cell Symposium panel. Congressman Richard Burr will lead a session on Biotechnology in Public Health. In addition, Ken Lee, president of A. M. Pappas & Associates, will moderate a session on International Biotech Strategies. Other sessions on genomics and life science investing will also feature experts in the field. Biotech 2002 is the Southeast's premier life sciences industry conference. This year's Biotech 2002 event is co-hosted by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC), the North Carolina Biosciences Organization (NCBIO), and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of companies in the greater Research Triangle region. Currently, the CED is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 5,000 members representing 1,200 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. TTJ |
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Dr. Thomas Okarma Is A Leader In Human Stem-Cell Research And Gene Therapy FROM A PRESS RELEASE The Triangle TechJournal: March 11th, 2002 www.triangletechjournal.com RTP - Dr. Thomas Okarma, CEO of Geron Corporation, was announced as the keynote speaker for the largest biotech event in the Southeast -- Biotech 2002, which is scheduled for May 20th at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in RTP. Geron is a publicly traded company headquartered in Menlo Park, California and was the first company to focus exclusively on the biology of aging and the development of therapeutic products for age-related diseases, such as cancer. Geron's therapies are based on three patented technologies -- telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer. "Dr. Okarma and Geron have been at the forefront of human embryonic stem cell research, and we felt that he was in a unique position to place these controversial, ethical issues in context," said Ford Worthy, senior vice president of life sciences venture fund A. M. Pappas & Associates, and co-chair of Biotech 2002. "The fact that Geron is in collaborations with MERIX Bioscience of Pittsboro, NC and has clinical trials underway at Duke, also speaks highly of the biotech industry in North Carolina," Worthy added. About Dr. Okarma and Geron Dr. Okarma was appointed President and CEO of Geron Corporation in July, 1999. He served as Geron's Vice President of Research and Development in 1998 and Vice President of Cell Therapies in 1997. Before joining Geron Corporation in 1997, Dr. Okarma was a senior vice president at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer. In 1995, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer acquired Applied Immune Sciences, Inc. (AIS) which was founded by Dr. Okarma in 1985. By the time of its acquisition by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, AIS was in advanced cell therapy human clinical trials in cancer and bone marrow transplantation and in early gene therapy human trials in breast cancer. Dr. Okarma was CEO of AIS from 1991 until its acquisition. Prior to founding AIS, Dr. Okarma was a member of the faculty of the Stanford University School of Medicine where he also received his PhD and MD degrees. He is the author of over 50 publications on cell and gene therapy with numerous patents in the field. Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications in oncology and regenerative medicine About Biotech 2002 Dr. Okarma will be starting the Biotech conference off with a keynote address as well as participating on the Stem Cell Symposium panel. Congressman Richard Burr will lead a session on Biotechnology in Public Health. In addition, Ken Lee, president of A. M. Pappas & Associates, will moderate a session on International Biotech Strategies. Other sessions on genomics and life science investing will also feature experts in the field. Biotech 2002 is the Southeast's premier life sciences industry conference. This year's Biotech 2002 event is co-hosted by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC), the North Carolina Biosciences Organization (NCBIO), and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of companies in the greater Research Triangle region. Currently, the CED is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 5,000 members representing 1,200 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. TTJ |
Wednesday, March 11th, 2002 2:06AM BREAKING NEWS |
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CEO Of Geron Will Speak At Biotech 2002 |
Click here to read the transcript of an interview with Dr. Okarma (above) on PBS' NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In the informative interview, Dr. Okarma tells why stem cells "grow forever" and also the role of the enzyme telomerase in this process. |
PHOTO FROM PBS |
