GERON names Harout Semerjian as new CEO

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) announced the appointment of Harout Semerjian as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Semerjian will also join the company's Board of Directors.

Semerjian succeeds Dawn Carter Bir, who served as Interim President and CEO since March 2024. Bir will continue as a Board member.

The new CEO brings over 30 years of experience in commercial hematology and oncology. He previously held leadership positions at several pharmaceutical companies, including a 17-year tenure at Novartis where he served in U.S. and global commercial roles, including as global lead for Gleevec and KISQALI and head of the U.S. hematology franchise.

Following his time at Novartis, Semerjian joined Ipsen as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. He briefly served as CEO of Immunomedics before its acquisition by Gilead and most recently led GlycoMimetics as CEO.

"Our Board conducted an extensive search to identify a leader with deep commercial and hematology expertise," said Elizabeth O'Farrell, Chairman of Geron's Board of Directors. "Harout brings over 30 years of commercial experience across hematology and oncology."

The appointment comes as Geron works to expand access to RYTELO, its telomerase inhibitor approved in the United States and European Union for treating certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion dependent anemia. The company is also conducting a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of the drug in JAK-inhibitor relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis.

Semerjian holds a B.S. in Biology from Lebanon American University and an MBA from Cornell University and Queen's University, Canada.

The information is based on a company press release.

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