Geron Appoints Vice President, Human Resources
June 20 2019 - 3:27PM
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today announced the appointment of
Shannon Odam as Vice President, Human Resources. Ms. Odam joins
other recently recruited senior leadership to further strengthen
the organization as it expands its operations to support the
planned opening of the Phase 3 portion of IMerge in lower risk
myelodysplastic syndromes for screening and enrollment in the
summer of 2019.
As Vice President, Human Resources, Ms. Odam will lead all
aspects of a comprehensive human resources function, including
oversight of policies and operations for leadership and talent
management, training, organizational development, operational
effectiveness and workforce planning. In addition, Ms. Odam will
work in partnership with the executive team to evaluate, design and
implement programs to create a cohesive, collaborative and
high-performing culture to support the Company’s growth initiatives
as Geron advances the imetelstat program into late-stage clinical
development and potential commercialization.
Shannon Odam has more than 20 years of experience leading human
capital strategy development and execution in dynamic cultures that
lead to accelerating organizational performance. Prior to Geron,
Ms. Odam was Vice President, Human Resources at BioElectron
Technology and a member of the executive team, where she led human
resources planning and operations to establish strategic alignment.
Prior to that, Ms. Odam was Market Diversity Leader at
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), Silicon Valley. Ms. Odam’s tenure
at PwC spanned 10 years with increasing responsibility where she
focused on leading the Silicon Valley practice through a rapidly
changing business environment as well as developing, retaining and
advancing employees through implemented programs. She also provided
executive coaching at all levels of the organization. Ms. Odam
holds a B.S. in criminology from California State University,
Fresno, and an M.S. in human resources and organizational
development from University of San Francisco. In addition, Ms. Odam
received a certification in executive coaching from The Hudson
Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule
5635(c)(4)
In connection with the commencement of employment, the Company
has granted non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of
478,400 shares of Geron common stock to Ms. Odam and two other new
employees. The stock options were granted on June 19, 2019 at an
exercise price of $1.59 per share, which is equal to the closing
price of Geron common stock on the date of grant. Each stock option
granted has a 10-year term and vests over four years, with 12.5% of
the shares underlying the option vesting on the six-month
anniversary of commencement of employment and the remaining shares
vesting over the following 42 months in equal installments of whole
shares, subject to continued employment with Geron through the
applicable vesting dates. Each stock option was granted as a
material inducement to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5635(c)(4) and is subject to the terms and conditions of a
stock option agreement covering the grant and Geron’s 2018
Inducement Award Plan, which was adopted December 14, 2018 and
provides for the granting of stock options to new employees.
About Imetelstat
Imetelstat is a novel, first-in-class telomerase inhibitor
exclusively owned by Geron and being developed in hematologic
myeloid malignancies. Early clinical data suggest imetelstat may
have disease-modifying activity through the suppression of
malignant progenitor cell clone proliferation, which allows
potential recovery of normal hematopoiesis. Ongoing clinical
studies of imetelstat consists of a Phase 2/3 trial, called IMerge,
in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and a Phase 2 trial,
called IMbark, in Intermediate-2 or High-risk myelofibrosis.
Imetelstat has been granted Fast Track designation by the United
States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients
with transfusion-dependent anemia due to lower risk MDS who are
non-del(5q) and refractory or resistant to an erythroid stimulating
agent.
About Geron
Geron is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused
on the development and potential commercialization of a
first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, in hematologic
myeloid malignancies. For more information about Geron, visit
www.geron.com.
Use of Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this
press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such statements,
include, without limitation, those regarding: (i) that the Phase 3
clinical trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes will be open
for patient screening and enrollment in summer 2019; (ii) that
imetelstat may have disease-modifying activity; (iii) that
the imetelstat program could potentially be commercialized; and
(iv) other statements that are not historical facts, constitute
forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially
from those in such forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties, include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties
related to: (i) whether the Company overcomes all the clinical,
safety and efficacy, technical, scientific, manufacturing and
regulatory challenges to enable the opening of the Phase 3 clinical
trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes for screening and
enrollment in summer 2019; (ii) whether regulatory authorities
permit the further development of imetelstat on a timely basis, or
at all, without any clinical holds; (iii) whether imetelstat is
safe and efficacious, and whether any future efficacy or safety
results may cause the benefit-risk profile of imetelstat to become
unacceptable; (iv) whether imetelstat is approved by regulatory
authorities for commercialization; and (v) whether imetelstat
demonstrates disease-modifying activity. Additional information on
the above risks and uncertainties and additional risks,
uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements are
contained in Geron’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the heading “Risk Factors,” including
Geron’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2019. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the
facts and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements may
change. Except as required by law, Geron disclaims any obligation
to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future
information, events or circumstances.
CONTACT:
Suzanne MessereInvestor and Media
Relationsinvestor@geron.commedia@geron.com
CG Capital877-889-1972
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