Geron Corp.

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

OR
 
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _____ TO _____ .

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-20859
________________

GERON CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE
75-2287752
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
 

230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE, MENLO PARK, CA 94025
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (650) 473-7700

FORMER NAME, FORMER ADDRESS AND FORMER FISCAL YEAR, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT: N/A

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer   o  Accelerated filer   x   Non-accelerated filer   o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o     No  x
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class:
Outstanding at October 26, 2006:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
66,346,005 shares

 
GERON CORPORATION

INDEX
 
 
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1:
2
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
Item 2:
15
Item 3:
21
Item 4:
21
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1:
22
Item 1A:
22
Item 2:
36
Item 3:
36
Item 4:
36
Item 5:
36
Item 6:
36
 
36
 
1

 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

GERON CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS)

 
 
 
SEPTEMBER 30,
2006
 
DECEMBER 31,
2005
 
 
 
(UNAUDITED) 
 
(SEE NOTE 1) 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
104,556
 
$
96,633
 
Restricted cash
   
530
   
530
 
Marketable securities
   
69,493
   
93,840
 
Interest and other receivables (including amounts from related
parties: 2006-$118, 2005-$194)
   
1,488
   
2,304
 
Current portion of prepaid assets
   
2,074
   
2,338
 
Total current assets
   
178,141
   
195,645
 
Noncurrent portion of prepaid assets
   
565
   
1,622
 
Equity investments in licensees and joint ventures
   
218
   
331
 
Property and equipment, net
   
2,526
   
2,754
 
Deposits and other assets
   
596
   
514
 
Intangible assets
   
   
377
 
 
 
$
182,046
 
$
201,243
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
   
   
 
Current liabilities:
   
   
 
Accounts payable
 
$
1,435
 
$
1,906
 
Accrued compensation
   
1,434
   
2,470
 
Accrued liabilities
   
1,367
   
1,299
 
Current portion of deferred revenue
   
1,455
   
2,180
 
Current portion of equipment loans
   
   
55
 
Current portion of research funding obligation
   
   
1,418
 
Total current liabilities
   
5,691
   
9,328
 
Noncurrent portion of deferred revenue
   
442
   
1,210
 
Commitments
   
   
 
Stockholders’ equity:
   
   
 
Common stock
   
66
   
65
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
573,868
   
560,742
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(397,703
)
 
(369,599
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(318
)
 
(503
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
175,913
   
190,705
 
 
 
$
182,046
 
$
201,243
 

See accompanying notes.
 
2

 
GERON CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 
 
 
 
2006 
 
2005 
 
2006 
 
2005
 
 Revenues from collaborative agreements
(including amounts from related parties:
three months - 2006-$118; 2005-$67;
nine months - 2006-$271; 2005-$118)
 
$
199
 
$
67
 
$
365
 
$
118
 
 License fees and royalties
   
524
   
606
   
1,727
   
5,285
 
 Total revenues
   
723
   
673
   
2,092
   
5,403
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 Operating expenses:
   
   
   
   
 
Research and development (including amounts
for related parties: three months - 2006-$118;
2005-$67; nine months - 2006-$271; 2005-$118)
   
10,703
   
12,183
   
29,392
   
25,480
 
General and administrative
   
2,114
   
1,411
   
7,064
   
7,104
 
 Total operating expenses
   
12,817
   
13,594
   
36,456
   
32,584
 
 Loss from operations
   
(12,094
)
 
(12,921
)
 
(34,364
)
 
(27,181
)
 
   
   
   
   
 
 Interest and other income
   
2,283
   
1,105
   
6,364
   
2,950
 
 Equity in losses in joint venture
   
   
   
   
(12
)
 Interest and other expense
   
(26
)
 
(46
)
 
(104
)
 
(389
)
 Net loss
 
$
(9,837
)
$
(11,862
)
$
(28,104
)
$
(24,632
)
 
   
   
   
   
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
 
$
(0.15
)
$
(0.21
)
$
(0.43
)
$
(0.44
)
 
   
   
   
   
 
 Weighted average shares used in computing
basic and diluted net loss per share
   
66,166,827
   
57,225,184
   
65,729,412
   
55,567,371
 

 
See accompanying notes.
 
3


GERON CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 
 
 
 
2006 
 
2005 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(28,104
)
$
(24,632
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
   
       
Depreciation and amortization
   
802
   
703
 
Accretion and amortization on investments
   
(299
)
 
1,535
 
Gain on sale of fixed assets
   
(16
)
 
(3
)
Issuance of common stock and warrants in exchange for services by non-employees
   
1,393
   
4,508
 
Stock-based compensation for options to employees and directors
   
3,323
   
 
Stock-based compensation for stock grants to employees
   
216
   
 
Accretion of interest on research funding obligation
   
   
245
 
Amortization of deferred compensation
   
122
   
113
 
Realized loss (gain) on equity investments in licensees
   
118
   
(62
)
Amortization of intangible assets, principally research related
   
377
   
566
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
   
       
Other current and noncurrent assets
   
3,246
   
1,829
 
Other current and noncurrent liabilities
   
(759
)
 
4,183
 
Accrued research funding obligation
   
(1,418
)
 
(1,817
)
Translation adjustment
   
(3
)
 
(37
)
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(21,002
)
 
(12,869
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
   
       
Restricted cash transfer
   
   
(375
)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
   
19
   
3
 
Capital expenditures
   
(577
)
 
(940
)
Purchases of marketable securities
   
(72,178
)
 
(88,344
)
Proceeds from sales of equity investments in licensees
   
   
207
 
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
   
97,007
   
117,366
 
Net cash provided by investing activities
   
24,271
   
27,917
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
   
       
Payments of obligations under equipment loans
   
(55
)
 
(119
)
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net of issuance costs
   
905
   
94,528
 
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
   
3,804
   
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
4,654
   
94,409
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
7,923
   
109,457
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
   
96,633
   
9,846
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
 
$
104,556
 
$
119,303
 

 
See accompanying notes.

4


1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The terms “Geron”, the “Company”, “we” and “us” as used in this report refer to Geron Corporation. The accompanying condensed consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of September 30, 2006 and condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the management of Geron, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006 or any other period. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Geron and our one wholly-owned subsidiary, Geron Bio-Med Ltd., a United Kingdom company. We have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions. We prepare the financial statements of Geron Bio-Med using the local currency as the functional currency. We translate the assets and liabilities of this subsidiary at rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. We translate income and expense items at average monthly rates of exchange. The resultant translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

FASB Interpretation No. 46-R (FIN 46R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” as amended, provides guidance on the identification, classification and accounting of variable interest entities (VIEs). We have variable interests in VIEs through marketable and non-marketable equity investments in various companies with whom we have executed licensing agreements. In accordance with FIN 46R, we have concluded that we are not the primary beneficiary in any of these VIEs and therefore have not consolidated such entities in our consolidated financial statements.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on weighted average shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effects of options and warrants. Diluted earnings (loss) per share would include any dilutive effect of options and warrants.

Because we are in a net loss position, diluted earnings per share is also calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and excludes the effects of common stock equivalents consisting of stock options and warrants which are all antidilutive. Had we been in a net income position, diluted earnings per share would have included the shares used in the computation of basic net loss per share as well as an additional 1,414,422 shares and 2,061,654 shares for 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to common stock equivalents not included above (as determined using the treasury stock method at an average market price during the period).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
5

 
Cash Equivalents and Marketable Debt Securities Available-For-Sale

We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We are subject to credit risk related to our cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. We place our cash and cash equivalents in money market funds and commercial paper. Our investments include corporate notes in United States corporations, commercial paper and asset-backed securities with original maturities ranging from one to 14 months.

We classify our marketable debt securities as available-for-sale. We record available-for-sale securities at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments. Realized gains and losses are included in interest and other income and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold and have been insignificant to date. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned.

We review our available-for-sale securities to identify and evaluate investments that have indications of possible impairment. We recognize an impairment charge when the declines in the fair values of our available-for-sale securities below the amortized cost basis are judged to be other-than-temporary. We consider various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the security issuer, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. Declines in market value judged other-than-temporary result in a charge to interest and other income. No impairment charges were recorded for our available-for-sale securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. We have determined that the gross unrealized losses of $166,000 on our available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2006 are primarily due to a decrease in the fair values of our fixed rate debt securities as a result of increases in interest rates and are temporary in nature.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue related to license and research agreements with collaborators, royalties and milestone payments. The principles and guidance outlined in EITF No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,” provide a framework to (i) determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, (ii) determine how the arrangement consideration should be measured and allocated to the separate units of accounting in the arrangement and (iii) apply relevant revenue recognition criteria separately for each of the separate units. For each separate unit of accounting we have objective and reliable evidence of fair value using available internal evidence for the undelivered item(s) and our arrangements generally do not contain a general right of return relative to the delivered item.

We have several license and marketing agreements with various oncology, diagnostics, research tools, agriculture and biologics production companies. With certain of these agreements, we receive nonrefundable license payments in cash or equity securities, option payments in cash or equity securities, royalties on future sales of products, milestone payments, or any combination of these items. Nonrefundable signing or license fees that are not dependent on future performance under these agreements or the intellectual property related to the license has been delivered are recognized as revenue when received and over the term of the arrangement if we have continuing performance obligations. Option payments are recognized as revenue over the term of the option agreement. Milestone payments are recognized upon completion of specified milestones, representing the culmination of the earnings process, according to contract terms. Royalties are generally recognized upon receipt of the related royalty payment.
 
We recognize revenue under collaborative agreements, including related party agreements, as the related research and development costs for services are rendered. Deferred revenue represents the portion of research and license payments received for which we have not yet performed the research services.

6


Restricted Cash

As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, we held $530,000 in a Certificate of Deposit as collateral on an unused line of credit.

Marketable and Non-Marketable Equity Investments in Licensees and Joint Ventures

Investments in non-marketable nonpublic companies are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Investments in marketable equity securities are carried at market value as of the balance sheet date. For marketable equity securities, unrealized gains and losses are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Realized gains or losses are included in interest and other income and are derived using the specific identification method.

We monitor our equity investments in licensees and joint ventures for impairment on a quarterly basis and make appropriate reductions in carrying values when such impairments are determined to be other-than-temporary. Impairment charges are included in interest and other income. Factors used in determining an impairment include, but are not limited to, the current business environment including competition and uncertainty of financial condition; going concern considerations such as the rate at which the investee company utilizes cash, and the investee company’s ability to obtain additional private financing to fulfill its stated business plan; the need for changes to the investee company’s existing business model due to changing business environments and its ability to successfully implement necessary changes; and the general progress toward product development, including clinical trial results. If an investment is determined to be impaired, then we determine whether such impairment is other-than-temporary. We recognized impairment charges of none and $119,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, related to other-than-temporary declines in fair values of our non-marketable equity investments. No impairment charges were recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the carrying values of our equity investments in non-marketable nonpublic companies, including our joint ventures, were $195,000 and $314,000, respectively.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Our exposure to currency exchange fluctuation risk is insignificant. Geron Bio-Med, our one wholly-owned subsidiary and a United Kingdom company, satisfies its financial obligations almost exclusively in its local currency. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, there was an insignificant currency exchange impact from intercompany transactions. We do not engage in foreign currency hedging activities. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Intangible Asset and Research Funding Obligation

In May 1999, we completed the acquisition of Roslin Bio-Med Ltd., a privately held company formed by the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland. In connection with this acquisition, we formed a research collaboration with the Roslin Institute and committed approximately $20,000,000 in research funding over six years. Using an effective interest rate of 6%, this research funding obligation had a net present value of $17,200,000 at the acquisition date and was capitalized as an intangible asset that was being amortized as research and development expense over the six year funding period. In December 2004, we extended the research funding period from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006 and we adjusted the amortization period of the intangible asset to coincide with the extended research period. No additional funding was committed. Imputed interest was accreted to the value of the research funding obligation and recognized as interest expense through April 2005. As of June 30, 2006, the entire research funding commitment has been paid and the intangible asset has been fully amortized.

Research and Development Expenses

All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The value of acquired in-process research and development is charged to research and development expense on the date of acquisition. Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, acquired in-process technology deemed to have no alternative future use, payroll and personnel expense, lab supplies, preclinical studies, raw materials to manufacture clinical trial drugs and vaccines, manufacturing costs for research and clinical trial materials, sponsored research at other labs, consulting and research-related overhead. Accrued liabilities for raw materials to manufacture clinical trial drugs, manufacturing costs, clinical trial expenses and sponsored research reimbursement fees are included in accrued liabilities and research and development expenses.
 
7

 
Depreciation and Amortization

We record property and equipment at cost and calculate depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally four years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or remaining term of the lease.

Stock-Based Compensation

On January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” (SFAS 123R) which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options and employee stock purchases related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP purchases) based upon the grant-date fair value of those awards. We previously accounted for our stock-based awards under the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25) and related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,  “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended. Under the intrinsic method, no stock-based compensation expense had been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations, because the exercise price of the stock options granted to employees and directors equaled the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. In the pro forma information required by SFAS 123 for the periods prior to fiscal 2006, we accounted for forfeitures as they occurred.

We implemented the provisions of SFAS 123R using the modified prospective transition method which requires the application of the accounting standard as of January 1, 2006, the first day of our fiscal year 2006. In accordance with this method, for awards expected to vest, we began recognizing compensation expense on a straight-line basis for stock-based awards granted after January 1, 2006, plus unvested awards granted prior to January 1, 2006 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123 and following the expense attribution method elected originally upon the adoption of SFAS 123. Results for prior periods have not been adjusted retrospectively.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized stock-based compensation expense of $996,000 and $3,323,000, respectively, related to employee and director stock options and ESPP purchases. No income tax benefit was recognized in the income statement for share-based compensation arrangements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, since we reported an operating loss. There was no stock-based compensation expense related to employee and director stock options and ESPP purchases recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the implementation of SFAS 123R increased loss from operations and net loss by $3,323,000 and basic and fully diluted net loss per share by $0.05. The implementation of SFAS 123R did not have an impact on cash flows from operations or financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
 
We used the Black Scholes option-pricing valuation model to estimate the grant-date fair value of our stock-based awards which was also used for valuing stock-based awards for pro forma information required under SFAS 123. For additional information, see Note 2 on Stockholders’ Equity. The determination of fair value for stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee exercise behaviors. Option-pricing models have been developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions and are fully transferable. However, because our employee stock options have certain characteristics that are significantly different from traded options, and because changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimated value, in management’s opinion, existing valuation models may not provide an accurate measure of the fair value of our stock-based awards. Although the fair value of our stock-based awards is determined in accordance with SFAS 123R and SAB 107 using an option-pricing model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.
 
8


On November 10, 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 123(R)-3, “Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards.” We have elected to adopt the alternative transition method provided in the FASB Staff Position for calculating the tax effects (if any) of stock-based compensation expense pursuant to SFAS 123R. The alterative transition method includes simplified methods to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (APIC pool) related to the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation, and to determine the subsequent impact to the APIC pool and the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding upon adoption of SFAS 123R.

We continue to apply the provisions of EITF 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services,” (EITF 96-18) for our non-employee stock-based awards. Under EITF 96-18, the measurement date at which the fair value of the stock-based award is measured is equal to the earlier of 1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instrument is reached or 2) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete. We recognize stock-based compensation expense for the fair value of the vested portion of the non-employee awards in our consolidated statements of operations.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive loss includes certain changes in stockholders’ equity which are excluded from net loss. The activity in comprehensive loss during the three and nine months of 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 Net loss
 
$
(9,837
)
$
(11,862
)
$
(28,104
)
$
(24,632
)
 Change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale and  marketable equity securities
   
143
   
19
   
188
   
(51
)
 Change in foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(5
)
 
1
   
(3
)
 
(37
)
 Comprehensive loss
 
$
(9,699
)
$
(11,842
)
$
(27,919
)
$
(24,720
)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:

 
 
September 30,
 2006
 
December 31,
 2005
 
 
 
(In thousands) 
 Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities and marketable equity investments
 
$
(143
)
$
(331
)
 Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(175
)
 
(172
)
 
 
$
(318
)
$
(503
)

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have made to conform to current year presentation. Deferred compensation has been reclassified to additional paid-in capital.
 
9


2. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Option Program Descriptions

1992 Stock Option Plan

The 1992 Stock Option Plan (1992 Plan) expired in August 2002 and no further option grants can be made from the 1992 Plan. The options granted under the 1992 Plan were either incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options. Options granted under the 1992 Plan expired no later than ten years from the date of grant. For incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options, the option exercise price was at least 100% and 85%, respectively, of the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Options to purchase shares of common stock generally vested over a period of four or five years from the date of the option grant, with a portion vesting after six months and the remainder vesting ratably over the remaining period.

2002 Equity Incentive Plan

In May 2002, our stockholders approved the adoption of the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (2002 Plan). Our Board of Directors administers the 2002 Plan. The 2002 Plan provides for grants to employees of us or of our subsidiary (including officers and employee directors) of either incentive stock or nonstatutory stock options and stock purchase rights to employees (including officers and employee directors) and consultants (including non-employee directors) of us or of our subsidiary. As of September 30, 2006, we had reserved 11,579,603 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2002 Plan. Options granted under the 2002 Plan expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. For incentive stock options, the option price shall be equal to 100% of the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. All other stock option prices are determined by the administrator. If, at the time we grant an option, the optionee directly or by attribution owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock, the option price shall be at least 110% of the fair market value of the underlying common stock and shall not be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant.
 
Options to purchase shares of common stock generally vest over a period of four years from the date of the option grant, with a portion vesting after six months and the remainder vesting ratably over the remaining period. Under certain circumstances, options may be exercised prior to vesting, subject to our right to repurchase shares subject to such option at the exercise price paid per share. Our repurchase rights would generally terminate on a vesting schedule identical to the vesting schedule of the exercised option. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, we did not repurchase any shares in accordance with these repurchase rights. As of September 30, 2006, no shares outstanding were subject to repurchase.

1996 Directors’ Stock Option Plan

The 1996 Directors’ Stock Option Plan (1996 Directors Plan) expired in June 2006 and no further option grants can be made from the 1996 Directors Plan. The options granted under the 1996 Directors Plan were nonstatutory stock options and expired no later than ten years from the date of grant. The option exercise price was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Options to purchase shares of common stock generally were 100% vested upon grant, except for options granted upon first appointment to the Board of Directors (First Option). The First Option vested annually over three years upon each anniversary date of appointment to the Board. The options issued pursuant to the 1996 Directors Plan remain exercisable for up to 90 days following the optionee’s termination of service as our director, unless such termination is a result of death or permanent and total disability, in which case the options (both those already exercisable and those that would have become exercisable had the director remained on the Board of Directors for an additional 36 months) remain exercisable for up to a 24 month period.
 
10

 
2006 Directors’ Stock Option Plan

In May 2006, our stockholders approved the adoption of the 2006 Directors’ Stock Option Plan (2006 Directors Plan) to replace the 1996 Directors Plan. As of September 30, 2006, we had reserved an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2006 Directors Plan. As of September 30, 2006, 80,000 options have been granted under the 2006 Directors Plan. The 2006 Directors Plan provides that each person who becomes a non-employee director after the effective date of the 2006 Directors Plan, whether by election by our stockholders or by appointment by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy, will automatically be granted an option to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock on the date on which such person first becomes a non-employee director (First Option). In addition, non-employee directors (other than the Chairman of the Board of Directors) will automatically be granted a subsequent option on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in each year during such director’s service on the Board (Subsequent Option) to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock under the 2006 Directors Plan. In the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Subsequent Option is for 40,000 shares of common stock. We grant an option to purchase 2,500 shares to each non-employee director (other than the Chairmen of such committees) on the date of each Annual Meeting during the director’s service on the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee or Compensation Committee (Committee Service Option). The Committee Service Option for the Chairman of the Audit Committee is for 10,000 shares of common stock and the Nominating and Compensation Committee Chairmen each receive an option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock.

The 2006 Directors Plan provides that each First Option granted thereunder becomes exercisable in installments cumulatively as to one-third of the shares subject to the First Option on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant of the First Option. Each Subsequent Option and Committee Service Option is fully vested on the date of its grant. The options issued pursuant to the 2006 Directors Plan remain exercisable for up to 90 days following the optionee’s termination of service as a director, unless such termination is a result of death or permanent and total disability, in which case the options (both those already exercisable and those that would have become exercisable had the director remained on the Board of Directors for an additional 36 months) remain exercisable for up to a 24 month period.

The exercise price of all stock options granted under the 2006 Directors Plan is equal to 100% of the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2006 Directors Plan have a term of ten years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In July 1996, we adopted the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Purchase Plan) and as of September 30, 2006, we had reserved an aggregate of 600,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the Purchase Plan. Approximately 304,000 and 287,000 shares have been issued under the Purchase Plan as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. As of September 30, 2006, 296,231 shares were available for issuance under the Purchase Plan.

Under the terms of the Purchase Plan, employees can choose to have up to 10% of their annual salary withheld to purchase our common stock. An employee may not make additional payments into such account or increase the withholding percentage during the offering period.

The Purchase Plan is comprised of a series of offering periods, each with a maximum duration (not to exceed 12 months) with new offering periods commencing on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The date an employee enters the offering period will be designated his or her entry date for purposes of that offering period. An employee may only participate in one offering period at a time.

The purchase price per share at which common stock is purchased by the employee on each purchase date within the offering period is equal to 85% of the lower of (i) the fair market value per share of Geron common stock on the employee’s entry date into that offering period or (ii) the fair market value per share of common stock on that purchase date. If the fair market value of Geron common stock on the purchase date is less than the fair market value at the beginning of the offering period, a new 12 month offering period will automatically begin on the first business day following the purchase date with a new fair market value.
 
11

 
Option Activity

Aggregate option activity for the 1992 Plan, 2002 Plan, the 1996 Directors Plan, and the 2006 Directors Plan is as follows:

 
 
 
 
Outstanding Options
 
 
 
 
Shares Available For Grant
 
 
Number
of
Shares
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining Contractual
Life
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(In thousands)
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
   
5,047,456
   
7,786,707
 
$
7.98
   
6.5
 
$
4,529
 
Additional shares authorized
   
4,500,000
   
 
$
   
   
 
Options granted
   
(1,665,058
)
 
1,665,058
 
$
6.74
   
   
 
Awards granted
   
(209,563
)
 
 
$
   
   
 
Options exercised
   
   
(192,919
)
$
4.55
   
   
 
Options forfeited
   
368,705
   
(368,705
)
$
9.57
   
   
 
1992 Plan and 1996 Directors Plan options expired
   
(95,663
)
 
 
$
   
   
 
Balance at September 30, 2006
   
7,945,877
   
8,890,141
 
$
7.76
   
6.4
 
$
4,126
 
     
   
   
   
   
 
 Options exercisable at September 30, 2006
   
   
6,245,012
 
$
8.16
   
5.4
 
$
3,998
 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total intrinsic value, based on Geron’s closing stock price of $6.27 as of September 30, 2006, which would have been received from the option holders had all the option holders exercised their options as of that date.

Valuation and Expense Information Under SFAS 123R

On January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS 123R, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options and employee stock purchases related to the Purchase Plan based on estimated grant-date fair values. The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and employee stock purchases under SFAS 123R for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 which was allocated as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30, 2006
 
September 30, 2006
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
 Research and development
 
$
630
 
$
1,603
 
 General and administrative
   
366
   
1,720
 
 Stock-based compensation expense included in operating expenses
 
$
996
 
$
3,323
 

The fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 has been estimated at the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2006
2005
Dividend yield
None
None
Expected volatility range
0.789 to 0.824
0.863 to 0.893
Risk-free interest rate range
4.28% to 5.14%
3.48% to 4.20%
Expected term
5 yrs
4 yrs
 
12

 
The fair value of employees’ purchase rights during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 has been estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2006
2005
Dividend yield
None
None
Expected volatility range
0.381 to 0.471
0.524 to 0.617
Risk-free interest rate range
4.81% to 5.27%
3.10% to 3.93%
Expected term
6 - 12 mos
6 mos

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of our stock since no traded options on Geron stock have maturities greater than three months. The expected term of options is derived from actual historical exercise data and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected term of employees’ purchase rights is equal to the offering period. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Zero Coupon Treasury Strip Yields for the expected term in effect on the date of grant. We grant options under our equity plans to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants for whom the vesting period is generally four years.

As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures but at a minimum, reflects the grant date fair value of those awards that actually vested in the period. SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience. In the pro forma information required under SFAS 123 for periods prior to January 1, 2006, forfeitures were accounted for as they occurred.
 
Based on the Black Scholes option-pricing model, the weighted average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $4.57 per share. The weighted average estimated fair value of purchase rights under our Purchase Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.88 per share.

Pro Forma Information Under SFAS 123 for Periods Prior to 2006

Prior to January 1, 2006, Geron followed the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 if the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 had been applied to stock-based awards using the Black Scholes option-pricing model. The assumptions used to value the employee stock options and employees’ purchase rights are listed above.
 
For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized over the vesting period of the options using the straight-line method. We accounted for forfeitures as they occurred. If we had recognized the expense of stock-based awards to employees and directors in our consolidated statements of operations, additional paid-in capital would have increased by the corresponding amount. Pro forma information previously reported during periods prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R was as follows:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 September 30, 2005
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2005
 
 (In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 Reported net loss
 
$
(11,862
)
$
(24,632
)
 Deduct:
   
   
 
 Stock-based employee expense determined under SFAS 123
   
(1,071
)
 
(3,749
)
 Pro forma net loss
 
$
(12,933
)
$
(28,381
)
 Basic and diluted net loss per share as reported
 
$
(0.21
)
$
(0.44
)
 Basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share
 
$
(0.23
)
$
(0.51
)

Based on the Black Scholes option-pricing model, the weighted average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $4.36 per share. The weighted average estimated fair value of purchase rights under our Purchase Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $2.55 per share.
 
13

 
3. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” (SFAS 131) establishes standards for reporting information regarding operating segments in annual financial statements and requires selected information for those segments to be presented in interim financial reports issued to stockholders. SFAS 131 also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services and geographic areas. Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in making decisions how to allocate resources and assess performance. Our executive management team represents our chief decision maker, as defined under SFAS 131. To date, we have viewed our operations as principally one reporting segment. As a result, the financial information disclosed herein materially represents all of the financial information related to our principal operating segment.

4. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA

 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 
 
(In Thousands) 
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 Supplemental Operating, Investing and Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 Net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments in licensees
 
$
5
 
$
(26
)
 Cash in transit from options
   
8
   
 
 Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
   
183
   
(25
)
 Shares issued for 401(k) matching contribution and performance bonus
   
2,173
   
1,803
 
 Shares or warrants issued for services
   
1,183
   
1,019
 

5. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

In October 2006, we issued 161,238 shares of Geron common stock to Cambrex Bioscience Walkersville, Inc. (Cambrex) in a private placement as advance consideration related to the first project order under a services agreement pursuant to which Cambrex is manufacturing certain products for our telomerase cancer vaccine program. The total fair value of the common stock was $1,000,000, which has been recorded as a prepaid asset and is being amortized to research and development expense on a pro-rata basis as services are performed, which is expected to be approximately four months.

 
14

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We use words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “future”, “intend” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear throughout the Form 10-Q and are statements regarding our intent, belief, or current expectations, primarily with respect to our operations and related industry developments. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks faced by us and described under the heading “Additional Factors that May Affect Future Results” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, in Part II, Item 1A, entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

Geron is a Menlo Park, California based biopharmaceutical company that is developing and intends to commercialize first-in-class therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases, including spinal cord injury, heart failure, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. The products are based on Geron’s core expertise in telomerase and human embryonic stem cells.

Our results of operations have fluctuated from period to period and may continue to fluctuate in the future, as well as the progress of our research and development efforts and variations in the level of expenses related to developmental efforts during any given period. Results of operations for any period may be unrelated to results of operations for any other period. In addition, historical results should not be viewed as indicative of future operating results. We are subject to risks common to companies in our industry and at our stage of development, including risks inherent in our research and development efforts, reliance upon our collaborative partners, enforcement of our patent and proprietary rights, need for future capital, potential competition and uncertainty of regulatory approvals or clearances. In order for a product to be commercialized based on our research, we and our collaborators must conduct preclinical tests and clinical trials, demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our product candidates, obtain regulatory approvals or clearances and enter into manufacturing, distribution and marketing arrangements, as well as obtain market acceptance. We do not expect to receive revenues or royalties based on therapeutic products for a period of years, if at all.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements describes the significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be applicable and reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates may change as new events occur, as additional information is obtained and as our operating environment changes. These changes have historically been minor and have been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements as soon as they became known. Based on a critical assessment of our accounting policies and the underlying judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies, management believes that our condensed consolidated financial statements are fairly stated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and present a meaningful presentation of our financial condition and results of operations.
15

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, Geron implemented a new critical accounting policy regarding equity-based compensation which is described below. We believe that there have been no other significant changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the critical accounting policies and estimates disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Valuation of Equity-Based Compensation

On January 1, 2006, we began accounting for stock-based awards under the provisions of SFAS 123R using the modified prospective transition method. Under SFAS 123R, we are required to measure and recognize compensation expense for all stock-based awards to our employees and directors, including employee stock options and employee stock purchases related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) based on estimated fair values. We estimated the fair value of stock options and ESPP shares using the Black Scholes option-pricing model. Option-pricing model assumptions such as expected volatility, risk-free interest rate and estimated term impact the fair value estimate. Further, estimated forfeiture rate impacts the amount of aggregate compensation recognized during the period. The fair value of equity-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award using the straight-line method.

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of our stock since no traded options on Geron stock have maturities greater than three months. The expected term of options represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. In deriving this assumption, we reviewed actual historical exercise and cancellation data and the remaining outstanding options not yet exercised nor cancelled. The expected term of employees’ purchase rights is equal to the offering period. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Zero Coupon Treasury Strip Yields for the expected term in effect on the date of grant. Forfeiture rate was estimated based on historical experience and will be adjusted over the requisite service period based on the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from their estimate.

Prior to the implementation of SFAS 123R, we accounted for stock-based awards under the intrinsic method of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (APB 25) and made pro forma footnote disclosures as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure,” which amended Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation.” Under the intrinsic method, no stock-based compensation expense had been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for stock options granted to employees and directors because the exercise price of the stock options equaled the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. Pro forma net loss and pro forma net loss per share disclosed in the footnotes to the consolidated condensed financial statements were estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model.

We continue to apply the provisions of EITF 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services,” (EITF 96-18) for our non-employee stock-based awards. Under EITF 96-18, the measurement date at which the fair value of the stock-based award is measured is equal to the earlier of 1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instrument is reached or 2) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete. We recognized stock-based compensation expense for the fair value of the vested portion of the non-employee awards in our consolidated statements of operations for 2006 and 2005.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS 123R for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $1.0 million and $3.3 million, respectively. There was no stock-based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 related to employee stock options and ESPP purchases. As of September 30, 2006, total compensation cost related to unvested stock options not yet recognized was $8.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 18 months on a weighted-average basis.

If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of SFAS 123R in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under SFAS 123R may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.
16

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenues

Revenues from collaborative agreements were $199,000 and $365,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $67,000 and $118,000 for the comparable 2005 periods. Revenues for the first nine months of 2006 primarily reflect the related party reimbursements we received from our joint venture in Hong Kong, TA Therapeutics, Ltd. (TAT) for scientific research services and revenue recognized under our collaboration with Corning Life Sciences. Revenues for the first nine months of 2005 reflect only our related party reimbursements from TAT.

We have entered into license agreements with companies involved with oncology, diagnostics, research tools, agriculture and biologics production. In each of these agreements, we have granted certain rights to our technologies. In connection with the agreements, we are entitled to receive license fees, milestone payments and royalties on future sales, or any combination thereof. We recognized license fee revenues of $511,000 and $1.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $591,000 and $5.2 million for the comparable 2005 periods related to our various agreements. In April 2005, we recognized $4.0 million in license fee revenue in conjunction with the transfer of nuclear transfer intellectual property rights for use in animal cloning to the joint venture, Start Licensing, Inc. We received royalties of $13,000 and $84,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $15,000 and $53,000 for the comparable 2005 periods on product sales of telomerase detection and telomere measurement kits to the research-use-only market, cell-based research products and agricultural products. License and royalty revenues are dependent upon additional agreements being signed and future product sales. We expect to recognize revenue of $538,000 for the remainder of 2006, $1.2 million in 2007, $59,000 in 2008, $47,000 in 2009 and $80,000 thereafter related to our existing deferred revenue. However, current revenues may not be predictive of future revenues.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were $10.7 million and $29.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $12.2 million and $25.5 million for the comparable 2005 periods. The decrease for the 2006 third quarter compared to the 2005 third quarter is primarily the net result of increased personnel-related expense of $1.0 million, including $630,000 for stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options, increased manufacturing costs of $508,000 related to the telomerase cancer vaccine, GRNVAC1, and higher preclinical and toxicology study expenses of $566,000 for GRNOPC1, our hESC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury, offset by reduced raw materials purchases of $3.6 million for the manufacture of Geron’s telomerase inhibitor drug, GRN163L. Research and development expense increased for the first nine months of 2006 compared to the comparable period in 2005 primarily as a result of higher personnel-related expenses of $3.4 million, including $1.6 million for stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options, increased costs of $1.4 million for preclinical studies of GRNOPC1 and clinical studies of GRN163L, increased manufacturing costs of $1.8 million related to GRNVAC1, and increased scientific supplies of $605,000, offset by reduced raw materials purchases of $3.7 million for the manufacture of GRN163L. Overall, we expect research and development expenses to increase in the next year as we incur expenses related to clinical trials for GRN163L and GRNVAC1 and continued development of our human embryonic stem cell (hESC) programs.

Our research and development activities have arisen from our two major technology platforms, telomerase and hESCs. The oncology programs focus on treating or diagnosing cancer by targeting or detecting the presence of telomerase, either inhibiting activity of the telomerase enzyme, diagnosing cancer by detecting the presence of telomerase, or using telomerase as a target for therapeutic vaccines. Our core knowledge base in telomerase and telomere biology supports all these approaches, and our scientists may contribute to any or all of these programs in a given period. Currently four sites have been designated as patient enrollment centers for our Phase 1-2 clinical trial of GRN163L in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In April 2006, we initiated clinical testing of GRN163L in patients with solid tumor malignancies at one site. An investigator-sponsored Phase 1-2 clinical trial at Duke University Medical Center (Duke) using our therapeutic vaccine targeting telomerase in patients with metastatic prostate cancer has been completed. We have transferred the vaccine manufacturing process from Duke to Geron for further optimization and transfer to a contract manufacturer.
17

Our hESC therapy programs focus on treating injuries and degenerative diseases with cell therapies based on cells derived from hESCs. A core of knowledge of hESC biology, as well as a significant continuing effort in deriving, growing, maintaining, and differentiating hESCs, underlies all aspects of this group of programs. Many of our researchers are allocated to more than one hESC project, and the percentage allocations of time change as the resource needs of individual programs vary. In our hESC therapy programs, we have concentrated our resources on several specific cell types. We have developed proprietary methods to culture and scale up undifferentiated hESCs and differentiate them into therapeutically relevant cells. We are now testing six different therapeutic cell types in animal models of human disease. After completion of these studies, and assuming continued success, we expect to begin Phase 1-2 clinical trials.

Research and development expenses allocated to programs are as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oncology
 
$
6,412
 
$
9,072
 
$
16,740
 
$
16,101
 
hESC Therapies
   
4,291
   
3,111
   
12,652
   
9,379
 
Total
 
$
10,703
 
$
12,183
 
$
29,392
 
$
25,480
 

At this time, we cannot provide reliable estimates of how much time or investment will be necessary to commercialize products from the programs currently in progress. Drug development in the U.S. is a process that includes multiple steps defined by the FDA under applicable statutes, regulations and guidance documents. After the preclinical research process of identifying, selecting and testing in animals a potential pharmaceutical compound, the clinical development process begins with the filing of an IND. Clinical development typically involves three phases of study: Phase 1, 2 and 3. The most significant costs associated with clinical development are incurred in Phase 3 trials, which tend to be the longest and largest studies conducted during the drug development process. After the completion of a successful preclinical and clinical development program, a New Drug Application (NDA) or Biologics License Application (BLA) must be filed with the FDA, which includes, among other things, very large amounts of preclinical and clinical data and results and manufacturing-related information necessary to support requested approval of the product. The NDA/BLA must be reviewed and approved by the FDA.

According to industry statistics, it generally takes 10 to 15 years to research, develop and bring to market a new prescription medicine in the United States. In light of the steps and complexities involved, the successful development of our potential products is highly uncertain. Actual timelines and costs to develop and commercialize a product are subject to enormous variability and are very difficult to predict. In addition, various statutes and regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing, safety reporting, labeling, storage, record keeping and marketing of each product. The lengthy process of seeking these regulatory reviews and approvals, and the subsequent compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, require the expenditure of substantial resources. Any failure by us to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could materially adversely affect our business. In responding to an NDA/BLA submission, the FDA may grant marketing approval, request additional information, deny the application if it determines that the application does not provide an adequate basis for approval, and refuse to review an application that has been submitted if it determines that the application does not provide an adequate basis for filing and review. We cannot provide assurance that any approval required by the FDA will be obtained on a timely basis, if at all.

For a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with completing development of potential products, see the sub-section titled “Because we or our collaborators must obtain regulatory approval to market our products in the United States and other countries, we cannot predict whether or when we will be permitted to commercialize our products” and “Entry into clinical trials with one or more product candidates may not result in any commercially viable products” in Part II, Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
18

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $2.1 million and $7.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $1.4 million and $7.1 million for the comparable 2005 periods. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the 2006 third quarter compared to the 2005 third quarter was primarily due to stock-based compensation expense recognized for stock options to employees and directors of $366,000. General and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2006 and 2005 were each $7.1 million due to recognition of compensation expense related to stock option grants, offset by reduced consulting expense. We expect general and administrative expenses to remain consistent with current levels.

Interest and Other Income and Equity in Losses of Joint Venture

Interest income was $2.3 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $2.9 million for the comparable 2005 periods. The increase in interest income for 2006 compared to 2005 was due to higher cash and investment balances as a result of proceeds received from the public offering in September 2005 and higher interest rates. Interest earned in future periods will depend on future funding and prevailing interest rates.

We also recognized none and $64,000 of other income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, related to the sale of equity investments in licensees. No such sales occurred in the comparable periods in 2006.

In March 2005, we formed TA Therapeutics, Ltd. (TAT) in Hong Kong to conduct research and develop telomerase activator drugs to restore the functional capacity of cells in various organ systems that have been impacted by senescence, injury, or chronic disease. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized none and $12,000, respectively, of loss for our proportionate share of net losses from the joint venture. Since our share of TAT’s net losses exceeds the original carrying value of the equity investment, we discontinued the application of the equity method of accounting as of June 30, 2005.

Interest and Other Expense

Interest and other expense was $26,000 and $104,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $46,000 and $389,000 for the comparable 2005 periods. The decrease in interest and other expense for 2006 compared to 2005 was primarily due to the conclusion of interest accretion for the Roslin research-funding obligation.

Net Loss

Net loss was $9.8 million and $28.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to $11.9 million and $24.6 million for the comparable 2005 periods. Net loss for the third quarter of 2006 decreased compared to the comparable 2005 period as a result of decreased operating costs and increased interest income. Overall net loss for 2006 increased over the comparable 2005 period primarily due to increased operating expenses for the clinical development of GRN163L and GRNVAC1 and reduced license fee revenue.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at September 30, 2006 totaled $174.6 million compared to $191.0 million at December 31, 2005. We have an investment policy to invest these funds in liquid, investment grade securities, such as interest-bearing money market funds, corporate notes, commercial paper, asset-backed securities and municipal securities. The decrease in cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in 2006 was due to the use of cash for operations.
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Net cash used in operations was $21.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $12.9 million for the comparable 2005 period. The increase in net cash used for operations in 2006 was primarily the result of increased net operating loss.
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Net cash provided by investing activities was $24.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared $27.9 million for the comparable 2005 period. The decrease in net cash provided by investing activities in 2006 compared to 2005 reflected reduced purchases and maturities of marketable securities.

Through September 30, 2006, we have invested approximately $16.0 million in property and equipment, of which approximately $8.3 million was financed through an equipment financing arrangement. No payments are due under the equipment financing facilities for the remainder of 2006. As of September 30, 2006, we had approximately $1.4 million available for borrowing under our equipment financing facilities. The drawdown period under the equipment financing facilities expires in November 2006. We intend to renew the commitment for new equipment financing facilities in 2006 to further fund equipment purchases. If we are unable to renew the commitment, we will be obliged to use our own cash resources for capital expenditures.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $4.7 million, compared to $94.4 million for the comparable 2005 period. In 2005, we received $76.0 million in net proceeds as a result of our underwritten public offering of common stock and the exercise of the Merck warrant and received $12.5 million in proceeds from the exercise of warrants issued to institutional investors in November 2004.

As of September 30, 2006, our contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 
 
 
Principal Payments Due by Period
 
 
Contractual Obligations (1) 
 
 
Total 
 
Less Than 
1  Year 
 
 
1-3 Years 
 
 
4-5 Years 
 
After
5 Years 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Operating leases (2)
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
Research funding (3)
   
6,891
   
752
   
4,958
   
394
   
787
 
Total contractual cash obligations
 
$
6,891
 
$
752
 
$
4,958
 
$
394
 
$
787
 
____________
 
(1)
This table does not include any milestone payments under research collaborations or license agreements as the timing and likelihood of such payments are not known.
 
 
(2)
In March 2004, we issued 363,039 shares of our common stock to the lessor of our premises at 200 and 230 Constitution Drive in payment of our monthly rental obligation from February 1, 2004 through July 31, 2008. The fair value of the common stock has been recorded as a prepaid asset and is being amortized to rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period.
 
 
(3)
Research funding is comprised of sponsored research commitments at various laboratories around the world, including our Hong Kong joint venture.
 
We estimate that our existing capital resources, interest income and equipment financing facilities will be sufficient to fund our current level of operations through at least December 2007. Changes in our research and development plans or other changes affecting our operating expenses or cash balances may result in the expenditure of available resources before such time, and in any event, we will need to raise substantial additional capital to fund our operations in the future. We intend to seek additional funding through strategic collaborations, public or private equity financings, equipment loans or other financing sources that may be available.
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The following discussion about our market risk disclosures contains forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

Credit Risk. We place our cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities with five financial institutions in the United States. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and therefore, bear minimal risk. Deposits with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of marketable securities. Marketable securities consist of high-grade corporate notes, asset-backed securities and commercial paper. Our investment policy, approved by our Board of Directors, limits the amount we may invest in any one type of investment, thereby reducing credit risk concentrations.

Interest Rate Sensitivity. The fair value of our cash equivalents and marketable securities at September 30, 2006 was $172.8 million. These investments include $103.3 million of cash equivalents which are due in less than 90 days and $63.2 million of short-term investments which are due in less than one year and $6.3 million of asset-backed securities which have varying maturity dates. Our investment policy is to manage our marketable securities portfolio to preserve principal and liquidity while maximizing the return on the investment portfolio through the full investment of available funds. We diversify the marketable securities portfolio by investing in multiple types of investment grade securities. We primarily invest our marketable securities portfolio in short-term securities with at least an investment grade rating to minimize interest rate and credit risk as well as to provide for an immediate source of funds. Although changes in interest rates may affect the fair value of the marketable securities portfolio and cause unrealized gains or losses, such gains or losses would not be realized unless the investments are sold. Due to the nature of our investments, primarily commercial paper, corporate notes, asset-backed securities and money market funds, we have concluded that there is no material market risk exposure related to interest rates.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk. Because we translate foreign currencies into United States dollars for reporting purposes, currency fluctuations can have an impact, though generally immaterial, on our results. We believe that our exposure to currency exchange fluctuation risk is insignificant primarily because our international subsidiary satisfies its financial obligations almost exclusively in its local currency. As of September 30, 2006, there was an immaterial currency exchange impact from our intercompany transactions. Our financial obligation to the Roslin Institute has been fully paid as of June 30, 2006. As of September 30, 2006, we did not engage in foreign currency hedging activities.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Securities and Exchange Commission defines the term “disclosure controls and procedures” to mean a company’s controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer have concluded, based on the evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures by our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective for this purpose.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting for the three months ended September 30, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

It should be noted that any system of controls, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance, and not absolute assurance, that the objectives of the system are met. In addition, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals in all future circumstances.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

None

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to various risks, including those described below. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this Form 10-Q. Any of these risks could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our business is at an early stage of development.

Our business is at an early stage of development, in that we do not yet have product candidates in late-stage clinical trials or on the market. One of our product candidates, a telomerase therapeutic cancer vaccine, has been studied in a Phase 1-2 clinical trial conducted by an academic institution. We have begun clinical testing of our lead anti-cancer drug, GRN163L, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and solid tumor malignancies. We have no other product candidates in clinical testing. Our ability to develop product candidates that progress to and through clinical trials is subject to our ability to, among other things:

·  
succeed in our research and development efforts;

·  
select therapeutic compounds or cell therapies for development;

·  
obtain required regulatory approvals;

·  
manufacture product candidates; and

·  
collaborate successfully with clinical trial sites, academic institutions, physician investigators, clinical research organizations and other third parties.

Potential lead drug compounds or other product candidates and technologies will require significant preclinical and clinical testing prior to regulatory approval in the United States and other countries. Our product candidates may prove to have undesirable and unintended side effects or other characteristics adversely affecting their safety, efficacy or cost-effectiveness that could prevent or limit their commercial use. In addition, our product candidates may not prove to be more effective for treating disease or injury than current therapies. Accordingly, we may have to delay or abandon efforts to research, develop or obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates. In addition, we will need to determine whether any of our potential products can be manufactured in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost. Our research and development efforts may not result in a product that can be approved by regulators or marketed successfully. Because of the significant scientific, regulatory and commercial milestones that must be reached for any of our development programs to be successful, any program may be abandoned, even after we have expended significant resources on the program, such as our investments in telomerase technology and human embryonic stem cells, which could cause a sharp drop in our stock price.

The science and technology of telomere biology and telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and nuclear transfer are relatively new. There is no precedent for the successful commercialization of therapeutic product candidates based on our technologies. These development programs are therefore particularly risky. In addition, we, our licensees or our collaborators must undertake significant research and development activities to develop product candidates based on our technologies, which will require additional funding and may take years to accomplish, if ever.
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We have a history of losses and anticipate future losses, and continued losses could impair our ability to sustain operations.

We have incurred operating losses every year since our operations began in 1990. As of September 30, 2006, our accumulated deficit was approximately $397.7 million. Losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in connection with our research and development activities and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect to incur additional operating losses and, as our development efforts and clinical testing activities continue, our operating losses may increase in size.

Substantially all of our revenues to date have been research support payments under collaboration agreements and revenues from our licensing arrangements. We may be unsuccessful in entering into any new corporate collaboration or license agreement that results in revenues. We do not expect that the revenues generated from these arrangements will be sufficient alone to continue or expand our research or development activities and otherwise sustain our operations.

While we receive royalty revenue from licenses of diagnostic product candidates, telomerase-immortalized cell lines and other licensing activities, we do not currently expect to receive sufficient royalty revenues from these licenses to sustain our operations. Our ability to continue or expand our research and development activities and otherwise sustain our operations is dependent on our ability, alone or with others, to, among other things, manufacture and market therapeutic products.

We also expect to experience negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as we fund our operating losses and capital expenditures. This will result in decreases in our working capital, total assets and stockholders' equity, which may not be offset by future financings. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability. We may not be able to generate these revenues, and we may never achieve profitability. Our failure to achieve profitability could negatively impact the market price of our common stock. Even if we do become profitable, we cannot assure you that we would be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.

We will need additional capital to conduct our operations and develop our products, and our ability to obtain the necessary funding is uncertain.

We will require substantial capital resources in order to conduct our operations and develop our product candidates, and we cannot assure you that our existing capital resources, interest income and equipment financing arrangements will be sufficient to fund our current and planned operations. The timing and degree of any future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

·  
the accuracy of the assumptions underlying our estimates for our capital needs in 2006 and beyond;

·  
the magnitude and scope of our research and development programs;

·  
the progress we make in our research and development programs and in preclinical development and clinical trials;

·  
our ability to establish, enforce and maintain strategic arrangements for research, development, clinical testing, manufacturing and marketing;

·  
the number and type of product candidates that we pursue;

·  
the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; and

·  
the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims.

We do not have any committed sources of capital. Additional financing through strategic collaborations, public or private equity financings, capital lease transactions or other financing sources may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. The receptivity of the public and private equity markets to proposed financings is substantially affected by the general economic, market and political climate and by other factors which are unpredictable and over which we have no control. Additional equity financings, if we obtain them, could result in significant dilution to stockholders. Further, in the event that additional funds are obtained through arrangements with collaborative partners, these arrangements may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies, product candidates or proposed products that we would otherwise seek to develop and commercialize ourselves. If sufficient capital is not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our programs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
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We do not have experience as a company conducting large-scale clinical trials, or in other areas required for the successful commercialization and marketing of our product candidates.

We will need to receive regulatory approval for any product candidates before they may be marketed and distributed. Such approval will require, among other things, completing carefully controlled and well-designed clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of each product candidate. This process is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. We have no experience as a company in conducting large-scale, late stage clinical trials, and our experience with early-stage clinical trials with small numbers of patients is limited. Such trials would require either additional financial and management resources, or reliance on third-party clinical investigators, clinical research organizations (CROs) or consultants. Relying on third-party clinical investigators or CROs may force us to encounter delays that are outside of our control.

We also do not currently have marketing and distribution capabilities for our product candidates. Developing an internal sales and distribution capability would be an expensive and time-consuming process. We may enter into agreements with third parties that would be responsible for marketing and distribution. However, these third parties may not be capable of successfully selling any of our product candidates.

Because we or our collaborators must obtain regulatory approval to market our products in the United States and other countries, we cannot predict whether or when we will be permitted to commercialize our products.

Federal, state and local governments in the United States and governments in other countries have significant regulations in place that govern many of our activities and may prevent us from creating commercially viable products from our discoveries.

The regulatory process, particularly for biopharmaceutical product candidates like ours, is uncertain, can take many years and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. Any product candidate that we or our collaborators develop must receive all relevant regulatory agency approvals before it may be marketed in the United States or other countries. Biological drugs and non-biological drugs are rigorously regulated. In particular, human pharmaceutical therapeutic product candidates are subject to rigorous preclinical and clinical testing and other requirements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and similar health authorities in other countries in order to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Because certain of our product candidates involve the application of new technologies or are based upon a new therapeutic approach, they may be subject to substantial additional review by various government regulatory authorities, and, as a result, the process of obtaining regulatory approvals for them may proceed more slowly than for product candidates based upon more conventional technologies. We may never obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates.

Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities is susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory agency approvals. In addition, delays or rejections may be encountered as a result of changes in regulatory agency policy during the period of product development and/or the period of review of any application for regulatory agency approval for a product candidate. Delays in obtaining regulatory agency approvals could:

·  
significantly harm the marketing of any products that we or our collaborators develop;

·  
impose costly procedures upon our activities or the activities of our collaborators;

·  
diminish any competitive advantages that we or our collaborators may attain; or
 
24

 
·  
adversely affect our ability to receive royalties and generate revenues and profits.

Even if we commit the necessary time and resources, the required regulatory agency approvals may not be obtained for any product candidates developed by us or in collaboration with us. If we obtain regulatory agency approval for a new product, this approval may entail limitations on the indicated uses for which it can be marketed that could limit the potential commercial use of the product.

Approved products and their manufacturers are subject to continual review, and discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or its manufacturer may result in restrictions on the product or manufacturer, including withdrawal of the product from the market. The sale by us or our collaborators of any commercially viable product will be subject to government regulation from several standpoints, including the processes of:

·  
manufacturing;

·  
advertising and promoting;

·  
selling and marketing;

·  
labeling; and

·  
distribution.

If, and to the extent that, we are unable to comply with these regulations, our ability to earn revenues will be materially and negatively impacted.

Failure to comply with regulatory requirements can result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including but not limited to:

·  
recall or seizure of products;

·  
injunction against manufacture, distribution, sales and marketing; and

·  
criminal prosecution.

The imposition of any of these penalties could significantly impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Entry into clinical trials with one or more product candidates may not result in any commercially viable products.

We may never generate revenues from product sales because of a variety of risks inherent in our business, including the following risks:

·  
clinical trials may not demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates;

·  
completion of clinical trials may be delayed, or costs of clinical trials may exceed anticipated amounts;

·  
we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of our products, or may experience delays in obtaining such approvals;

·  
we may not be able to manufacture our product candidates economically on a commercial scale;

·  
we and any licensees of ours may not be able to successfully market our products;

·  
physicians may not prescribe our product candidates, or patients or third party payors may not accept such product candidates;
 
25

·  
others may have proprietary rights which prevent us from marketing our products; and

·  
competitors may sell similar, superior or lower-cost products.

With respect to our telomerase cancer vaccine product candidate, our clinical testing has been limited to early-stage testing for a small number of patients. The results of this testing may not be indicative of successful outcomes in later stage trials. We have begun clinical testing for our Phase 1-2 clinical trial of our telomerase inhibitor compound, GRN163L. This is the first clinical trial for this product. We have not commenced clinical testing for any other product candidate.

Restrictions on the use of human embryonic stem cells, political commentary and the ethical and social implications of research involving human embryonic stem cells could prevent us from developing or gaining acceptance for commercially viable products based upon such stem cells and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Some of our most important programs involve the use of stem cells that are derived from human embryos. The use of human embryonic stem cells gives rise to ethical and social issues regarding the appropriate use of these cells. Our research related to human embryonic stem cells may become the subject of adverse commentary or publicity, which could significantly harm the market price for our common stock.
 
Some political and religious groups have voiced opposition to our technology and practices. We use stem cells derived from human embryos that have been created for in vitro fertilization procedures but are no longer desired or suitable for that use and are donated with appropriate informed consent for research use. Many research institutions, including some of our scientific collaborators, have adopted policies regarding the ethical use of human embryonic tissue. These policies may have the effect of limiting the scope of research conducted using human embryonic stem cells, thereby impairing our ability to conduct research in this field.

In addition, the United States government and its agencies have until recently refused to fund research which involves the use of human embryonic tissue. President Bush announced on August 9, 2001 that he would permit federal funding of research on human embryonic stem cells using the limited number of embryonic stem cell lines that had already been created, but relatively few federal grants have been made so far. The President’s Council on Bioethics will monitor stem cell research, and the guidelines and regulations it recommends may include restrictions on the scope of research using human embryonic or fetal tissue. Certain states are considering, or have in place, legislation relating to stem cell research, including California whose voters approved Proposition 71 to provide state funds for stem cell research in November 2004. It is not yet clear what, if any, affect such state actions may have on our ability to commercialize stem cell products. In the United Kingdom and other countries, the use of embryonic or fetal tissue in research (including the derivation of human embryonic stem cells) is regulated by the government, whether or not the research involves government funding.
 
Government-imposed restrictions with respect to use of embryos or human embryonic stem cells in research and development could have a material adverse effect on us, including:
 
·  
harming our ability to establish critical partnerships and collaborations;

·  
delaying or preventing progress in our research and development; and

·  
causing a decrease in the price of our stock.
 
Impairment of our intellectual property rights may adversely affect the value of our technologies and product candidates and limit our ability to pursue their development.

Protection of our proprietary technology is critically important to our business. Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain and enforce our patents and maintain trade secrets, both in the United States and in other countries. In the event that we are unsuccessful in obtaining and enforcing patents, our business would be negatively impacted. Further, our patents may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and our patent rights may not provide proprietary protection or competitive advantages to us.
26

The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, including ours, are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and technical questions. In particular, legal principles for biotechnology patents in the United States and in other countries are evolving, and the extent to which we will be able to obtain patent coverage to protect our technology, or enforce issued patents, is uncertain.

For example, the European Patent Convention prohibits the granting of European patents for inventions that concern “uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes.” The European Patent Office is presently interpreting this prohibition broadly, and is applying it to reject patent claims that pertain to human embryonic stem cells. However, this broad interpretation is being challenged through the European Patent Office appeals system. As a result, we do not yet know whether or to what extent we will be able to obtain European patent protection for our human embryonic stem cell technologies in Europe.

Publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature tends to lag behind actual discoveries by at least several months and sometimes several years. Therefore, the persons or entities that we or our licensors name as inventors in our patents and patent applications may not have been the first to invent the inventions disclosed in the patent applications or patents, or the first to file patent applications for these inventions. As a result, we may not be able to obtain patents for discoveries that we otherwise would consider patentable and that we consider to be extremely significant to our future success.

Where several parties seek U.S. patent protection for the same technology, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the Patent Office) may declare an interference proceeding in order to ascertain the party to which the patent should be issued. Patent interferences are typically complex, highly contested legal proceedings, subject to appeal. They are usually expensive and prolonged, and can cause significant delay in the issuance of patents. Moreover, parties that receive an adverse decision in an interference can lose important patent rights. Our pending patent applications, or our issued patents, may be drawn into interference proceedings which may delay or prevent the issuance of patents, or result in the loss of issued patent rights. If more groups become engaged in scientific research related to telomerase biology and/or embryonic stem cells, the number of patent filings by such groups and therefore the risk of our patents or applications being drawn into interferences may increase.

The interference process can also be used to challenge a patent that has been issued to another party. For example, in 2004 we were party to two interferences declared by the Patent Office at our request. These interferences involved two of our pending applications relating to nuclear transfer technology and two issued patents, held by the University of Massachusetts (U. Mass) and licensed to Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) of Worcester, Massachusetts. We requested these interferences in order to clarify our patent rights to this technology and to facilitate licensing to companies wishing to utilize this technology in animal cloning. The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences issued final judgments in each of these cases, finding in both instances that all of the claims in the U. Mass patents in question were unpatentable, and upholding the patentability of Geron's pending claims. These judgments were appealed by U. Mass and ACT, but the appeals have now been dismissed as part of a settlement agreement, resulting in invalidation of the U. Mass patents.
 
Outside of the United States, certain jurisdictions, such as Europe, New Zealand and Australia, permit oppositions to be filed against the granting of patents. Because our intent is to commercialize products internationally, securing both proprietary protection and freedom to operate outside of the United States is important to our business. We are involved in both opposing the grant of patents to others through such opposition proceedings and in defending our patent applications against oppositions filed by others. For example, we are involved in two patent oppositions before the European Patent Office (“EPO”) with a Danish company, Pharmexa. Pharmexa (which acquired the Norwegian company GemVax in 2005) is developing a cancer vaccine that employs a short telomerase peptide to induce an immune response against telomerase and has announced plans to begin Phase 3 clinical trials. Pharmexa obtained a European patent with claims to the use of telomerase peptides for the treatment of cancer, and Geron opposed that patent in 2004. In 2005, the Opposition Division (“OD”) of the EPO revoked the claims originally granted to Pharmexa, but permitted Pharmexa to add new, narrower claims. Pharmexa has appealed that decision to the Technical Board of Appeal (“TBA”), seeking restoration of the original claims, while Geron has cross-appealed, seeking revocation of all the claims.
27

In parallel, Pharmexa opposed a European patent held by Geron, the claims of which cover many facets of human telomerase, including the use of telomerase peptides in cancer vaccines. In June 2006, the OD of the EPO revoked three of the granted claims in Geron’s patent, specifically the three claims covering telomerase peptide cancer vaccines. Geron will appeal that decision to the TBA. We are also seeking to obtain patent coverage for telomerase peptides through the filing of a European divisional patent application.

The appeals in each of these European opposition cases will likely take a minimum of 12 months and possibly considerably longer. These oppositions reflect the complexity of the patent landscape in which we operate, and illustrate the risks and uncertainties. We are also involved in other patent oppositions in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, both as the opposing party and the party whose patent is being opposed.

Patent opposition proceedings are not currently available in the U.S. patent system, but legislation is pending to introduce them. However, issued U.S. patents can be reexamined by the Patent Office at the request of a third party. Patents owned or licensed by Geron may therefore be subject to reexamination. As in any legal proceeding, the outcome of patent reexaminations is uncertain, and a decision adverse to our interests could result in the loss of valuable patent rights. In July 2006, requests were filed on behalf of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights for reexamination of three issued U.S. patents owned by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and relating to human embryonic stem cells. These three patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,843,780, 6,200,806 and 7,029,913) are licensed to Geron pursuant to a January 2002 license agreement with WARF. In October 2006, the Patent Office initiated the reexamination proceedings; such proceedings typically take one to two years to be concluded at the Patent Office, and the result may be subject to appeal.

Successful challenges to our patents through interferences, oppositions or reexamination proceedings could result in a loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction(s). If we are unsuccessful in actions we bring against the patents of other parties, we may be subject to litigation, or otherwise prevented from commercializing potential products in the relevant jurisdiction, or may be required to obtain licenses to those patents or develop or obtain alternative technologies, any of which could harm our business. As more groups become engaged in scientific research and product development in the areas of telomerase biology and/or embryonic stem cells, the risk of our patents being challenged through patent interferences, oppositions, reexaminations or other means will likely increase.

Furthermore, if such challenges to our patent rights are not resolved promptly in our favor, our existing business relationships may be jeopardized and we could be delayed or prevented from entering into new collaborations or from commercializing certain products, which could materially harm our business.

Patent litigation may also be necessary to enforce patents issued or licensed to us or to determine the scope and validity of our proprietary rights or the proprietary rights of others. We may not be successful in any patent litigation. Patent litigation can be extremely expensive and time-consuming, even if the outcome is favorable to us. An adverse outcome in a patent litigation, patent opposition, patent interference, or any other proceeding in a court or patent office could subject our business to significant liabilities to other parties, require disputed rights to be licensed from other parties or require us to cease using the disputed technology, any of which could severely harm our business.

If we fail to meet our obligations under license agreements, we may lose our rights to key technologies on which our business depends.

Our business depends on several critical technologies that are based in part on patents licensed from third parties. Those third-party license agreements impose obligations on us, such as payment obligations and obligations to diligently pursue development of commercial products under the licensed patents. If a licensor believes that we have failed to meet our obligations under a license agreement, the licensor could seek to limit or terminate our license rights, which could lead to costly and time-consuming litigation and, potentially, a loss of the licensed rights. During the period of any such litigation our ability to carry out the development and commercialization of potential products could be significantly and negatively affected. If our license rights were restricted or ultimately lost, our ability to continue our business based on the affected technology platform would be severely adversely affected.
28

 
We may be subject to litigation that will be costly to defend or pursue and uncertain in its outcome.

Our business may bring us into conflict with our licensees, licensors, or others with whom we have contractual or other business relationships, or with our competitors or others whose interests differ from ours. If we are unable to resolve those conflicts on terms that are satisfactory to all parties, we may become involved in litigation brought by or against us. That litigation is likely to be expensive and may require a significant amount of management's time and attention, at the expense of other aspects of our business. The outcome of litigation is always uncertain, and in some cases could include judgments against us that require us to pay damages, enjoin us from certain activities, or otherwise affect our legal or contractual rights, which could have a significant adverse effect on our business.

We may be subject to infringement claims that are costly to defend, and which may limit our ability to use disputed technologies and prevent us from pursuing research and development or commercialization of potential products.

Our commercial success depends significantly on our ability to operate without infringing patents and the proprietary rights of others. Our technologies may infringe the patents or proprietary rights of others. In addition, we may become aware of discoveries and technology controlled by third parties that are advantageous to our programs. In the event our technologies infringe the rights of others or we require the use of discoveries and technology controlled by third parties, we may be prevented from pursuing research, development or commercialization of potential products or may be required to obtain licenses to those patents or other proprietary rights or develop or obtain alternative technologies. We have obtained licenses from several universities and companies for technologies that we anticipate incorporating into our potential products, and are in negotiation for licenses to other technologies. We may not be able to obtain a license to patented technology on commercially favorable terms, or at all. If we do not obtain a necessary license, we may need to redesign our technologies or obtain rights to alternate technologies, the research and adoption of which could cause delays in product development. In cases where we are unable to license necessary technologies, we could be prevented from developing certain potential products. Our failure to obtain alternative technologies or a license to any technology that we may require to research, develop or commercialize our product candidates would significantly and negatively affect our business.

Much of the information and know-how that is critical to our business is not patentable and we may not be able to prevent others from obtaining this information and establishing competitive enterprises.
 
We sometimes rely on trade secrets to protect our proprietary technology, especially in circumstances in which we believe patent protection is not appropriate or available. We attempt to protect our proprietary technology in part by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, collaborators and contractors. We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached, that we would have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors, any of which would harm our business significantly.

We depend on our collaborators and joint venture partners to help us develop and test our product candidates, and our ability to develop and commercialize potential products may be impaired or delayed if collaborations are unsuccessful.

Our strategy for the development, clinical testing and commercialization of our product candidates requires that we enter into collaborations with corporate or joint venture partners, licensors, licensees and others. We are dependent upon the subsequent success of these other parties in performing their respective responsibilities and the continued cooperation of our partners. By way of examples: Cell Genesys is principally responsible for developing oncolytic virus therapeutics utilizing the telomerase promoter and Roche is responsible for developing cancer diagnostics using our telomerase technology. Our collaborators may not cooperate with us or perform their obligations under our agreements with them. We cannot control the amount and timing of our collaborators’ resources that will be devoted to activities related to our collaborative agreements with them. Our collaborators may choose to pursue existing or alternative technologies in preference to those being developed in collaboration with us.

Under agreements with collaborators and joint venture partners, we may rely significantly on these parties to, among other activities:
 
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·  
conduct research and development activities in conjunction with us;

·  
design and conduct advanced clinical trials in the event that we reach clinical trials;

·  
fund research and development activities with us;

·  
manage and license certain patent rights;

·  
pay us fees upon the achievement of milestones; and

·  
market with us any commercial products that result from our collaborations or joint ventures.

The development and commercialization of potential products will be delayed if collaborators or joint venture partners fail to conduct these activities in a timely manner or at all. For example, we recently terminated our collaboration with Dendreon Corporation because of its failure to meet diligence requirements in our agreement. In addition, our collaborators could terminate their agreements with us and we may not receive any development or milestone payments. If we do not achieve milestones set forth in the agreements, or if our collaborators breach or terminate their collaborative agreements with us, our business may be materially harmed.

Our reliance on the activities of our non-employee consultants, research institutions, and scientific contractors, whose activities are not wholly within our control, may lead to delays in development of our product candidates.

We rely extensively upon and have relationships with scientific consultants at academic and other institutions, some of whom conduct research at our request, and other consultants with expertise in clinical development strategy or other matters. These consultants are not our employees and may have commitments to, or consulting or advisory contracts with, other entities that may limit their availability to us. We have limited control over the activities of these consultants and, except as otherwise required by our collaboration and consulting agreements, can expect only limited amounts of their time to be dedicated to our activities.

In addition, we have formed research collaborations with many academic and other research institutions throughout the world. These research facilities may have commitments to other commercial and non-commercial entities. We have limited control over the operations of these laboratories and can expect only limited amounts of their time to be dedicated to our research goals.

We also rely on other companies for certain process development, manufacturing or other technical scientific work, especially with respect to our telomerase inhibitor and telomerase vaccine programs. We have contracts with these companies that specify the work to be done and results to be achieved, but we do not have direct control over their personnel or operations.

If any of these third parties are unable or refuse to contribute to projects on which we need their help, our ability to generate advances in our technologies and develop our product candidates could be significantly harmed.

The loss of key personnel could slow our ability to conduct research and develop product candidates.

Our future success depends to a significant extent on the skills, experience and efforts of our executive officers and key members of our scientific staff. Competition for personnel is intense and we may be unable to retain our current personnel or attract or assimilate other highly qualified management and scientific personnel in the future. The loss of any or all of these individuals could harm our business and might significantly delay or prevent the achievement of research, development or business objectives.

We also rely on consultants and advisors who assist us in formulating our research and development and clinical strategy. We face intense competition for qualified individuals from numerous pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as academic and other research institutions. We may not be able to attract and retain these individuals on acceptable terms. Failure to do so could materially harm our business.
 
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Potential restrictions or a ban on nuclear transfer could prevent us from benefiting financially from our research in this area.

Our nuclear transfer technology could theoretically be used to produce human embryos for the derivation of embryonic stem cells (sometimes referred to as “therapeutic cloning”) or cloned humans (sometimes referred to as “reproductive cloning”). The U.S. Congress has recently considered legislation that would ban human therapeutic cloning as well as reproductive cloning. Such a bill was passed by the House of Representatives, although not by the Senate. The July 2002 report of the President's Council on Bioethics recommended a four-year moratorium on therapeutic cloning. If human therapeutic cloning is restricted or banned, we will not be able to benefit from the scientific knowledge that would be generated by research in that area. Further, if regulatory bodies were to restrict or ban the sale of food products from cloned animals, our financial participation in the businesses of our nuclear transfer licensees or the value of our ownership in our joint venture, Start Licensing, could be significantly harmed.

Our products are likely to be expensive to manufacture, and they may not be profitable if we are unable to significantly reduce the costs to manufacture them.

Our telomerase inhibitor compound, GRN163L, and our hESC-based products are likely to be more expensive to manufacture than most other drugs currently on the market today. Oligonucleotides are relatively large molecules with complex chemistry, and the cost of manufacturing an oligonucleotide like GRN163L is greater than the cost of making most small-molecule drugs. Our present manufacturing processes are conducted at a small scale and are at an early stage of development. We hope to substantially reduce manufacturing costs through process improvements, as well as through scale increases. If we are not able to do so, however, and, depending on the pricing of the potential product, the profit margin on the telomerase inhibitor may be significantly less than that of most drugs on the market today. Similarly, we currently make differentiated cells from hESCs on a laboratory scale, at a high cost per unit measure. The cell-based therapies we are developing based on hESCs will probably require large quantities of cells. We continue to develop processes to scale up production of the cells in a cost-effective way. We may not be able to charge a high enough price for any cell therapy product we develop, even if it is safe and effective, to make a profit. If we are unable to realize significant profits from our potential product candidates, our business would be materially harmed.

Some of our competitors may develop technologies that are superior to or more cost-effective than ours, which may impact the commercial viability of our technologies and which may significantly damage our ability to sustain operations.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are intensely competitive. Other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and research organizations currently engage in or have in the past engaged in efforts related to the biological mechanisms that are the focus of our programs in oncology and human embryonic stem cell therapies, including the study of telomeres, telomerase, human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer. In addition, other products and therapies that could compete directly with the product candidates that we are seeking to develop and market currently exist or are being developed by pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and by academic and other research organizations.

Many companies are developing alternative therapies to treat cancer and, in this regard, are competitors of ours. According to public data from the FDA and NIH, there are more than 200 approved anti-cancer products on the market in the United States, and several thousand in clinical development. Many of the pharmaceutical companies developing and marketing these competing products (including GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Novartis AG, among others) have significantly greater financial resources and expertise than we do in:

·  
research and development;

·  
manufacturing;

·  
preclinical and clinical testing;
 
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·  
obtaining regulatory approvals; and

·  
marketing and distribution.

Smaller companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations may also conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, clinical development and marketing of products similar to ours. These companies and institutions compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to our programs.

In addition to the above factors, we expect to face competition in the following areas:

·  
product efficacy and safety;

·  
the timing and scope of regulatory consents;

·  
availability of resources;

·  
reimbursement coverage;

·  
price; and

·  
patent position, including potentially dominant patent positions of others.

As a result of the foregoing, our competitors may develop more effective or more affordable products, or achieve earlier patent protection or product commercialization than we do. Most significantly, competitive products may render any product candidates that we develop obsolete, which would negatively impact our business and ability to sustain operations.

We may not be able to obtain or maintain sufficient insurance on commercially reasonable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities in order to protect ourselves against product liability claims.

Our business exposes us to potential product liability risks that are inherent in the testing, manufacturing and marketing of human therapeutic and diagnostic products. We may become subject to product liability claims if the use of our potential products is alleged to have injured subjects or patients. This risk exists for product candidates tested in human clinical trials as well as potential products that are sold commercially. We currently have limited clinical trial liability insurance and we may not be able to maintain this type of insurance for any of our clinical trials. In addition, product liability insurance is becoming increasingly expensive. As a result, we may not be able to obtain or maintain product liability insurance in the future on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business.

To be successful, our product candidates must be accepted by the health care community, which can be very slow to adopt or unreceptive to new technologies and products.

Our product candidates and those developed by our collaborative or joint venture partners, if approved for marketing, may not achieve market acceptance since hospitals, physicians, patients or the medical community in general may decide not to accept and utilize these products. The product candidates that we are attempting to develop represent substantial departures from established treatment methods and will compete with a number of conventional drugs and therapies manufactured and marketed by major pharmaceutical companies. The degree of market acceptance of any of our developed potential products will depend on a number of factors, including:

·  
our establishment and demonstration to the medical community of the clinical efficacy and safety of our product candidates;
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·  
our ability to create products that are superior to alternatives currently on the market;

·  
our ability to establish in the medical community the potential advantage of our treatments over alternative treatment methods; and

·  
reimbursement policies of government and third-party payors.

If the health care community does not accept our potential products for any of the foregoing reasons, or for any other reason, our business would be materially harmed.

If we fail to obtain acceptable prices or adequate reimbursement for our product candidates, the use of our potential products could be severely limited.

Our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates will depend significantly on our ability to obtain acceptable prices and the availability of reimbursement to the patient from third-party payors. Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly-approved health care products, including pharmaceuticals. If our potential products are not considered cost-effective or if we fail to generate adequate third-party reimbursement for the users of our potential products and treatments, then we may be unable to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.

In both U.S. and other markets, sales of our potential products, if any, will depend in part on the availability of reimbursement from third-party payors, examples of which include:

·  
government health administration authorities;

·  
private health insurers;

·  
health maintenance organizations; and

·  
pharmacy benefit management companies.

Both federal and state governments in the United States and governments in other countries continue to propose and pass legislation designed to contain or reduce the cost of health care. Legislation and regulations affecting the pricing of pharmaceuticals and other medical products may be adopted before any of our potential products are approved for marketing. Cost control initiatives could decrease the price that we receive for any product candidate we may develop in the future. In addition, third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price and cost-effectiveness of medical products and services and any of our potential products may ultimately not be considered cost-effective by these third parties. Any of these initiatives or developments could materially harm our business.

Our activities involve hazardous materials, and improper handling of these materials by our employees or agents could expose us to significant legal and financial penalties.

Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. As a consequence, we are subject to numerous environmental and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures, exposure to blood-borne pathogens and the handling of biohazardous materials. We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations and may be adversely affected by the cost of compliance with these laws and regulations.

Although we believe that our safety procedures for using, handling, storing and disposing of hazardous materials comply with the standards prescribed by state and federal regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be eliminated. In the event of such an accident, state or federal authorities could curtail our use of these materials and we could be liable for any civil damages that result, the cost of which could be substantial. Further, any failure by us to control the use, disposal, removal or storage, or to adequately restrict the discharge, or assist in the cleanup, of hazardous chemicals or hazardous, infectious or toxic substances could subject us to significant liabilities, including joint and several liability under certain statutes. Any such liability could exceed our resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, an accident could damage our research and manufacturing facilities and operations.
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Additional federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting us may be adopted in the future. We may incur substantial costs to comply with these laws and regulations and substantial fines or penalties if we violate any of these laws or regulations.

Our stock price has historically been very volatile.

Stock prices and trading volumes for many biopharmaceutical companies fluctuate widely for a number of reasons, including factors which may be unrelated to their businesses or results of operations such as media coverage, legislative and regulatory measures and the activities of various interest groups or organizations. This market volatility, as well as general domestic or international economic, market and political conditions, could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the return on your investment.

Historically, our stock price has been extremely volatile. Between January 1998 and September 2006, our stock has traded as high as $75.88 per share and as low as $1.41 per share. Between January 1, 2003 and September 30, 2006, the price has ranged between a high of $16.80 per share and a low of $1.41 per share. The significant market price fluctuations of our common stock are due to a variety of factors, including:

·  
the demand in the market for our common stock;

·  
the experimental nature of our product candidates;

·  
fluctuations in our operating results;

·  
market conditions relating to the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries;

·  
announcements of technological innovations, new commercial products, or clinical progress or lack thereof by us, our collaborative partners or our competitors;

·  
announcements concerning regulatory developments, developments with respect to proprietary rights and our collaborations;

·  
comments by securities analysts;

·  
general market conditions;

·  
political developments related to human embryonic stem cell research;

·  
public concern with respect to our product candidates; or

·  
the issuance of common stock to partners, vendors or to investors to raise additional capital.

In addition, the stock market is subject to other factors outside our control that can cause extreme price and volume fluctuations. Securities class action litigation has often been brought against companies, including many biotechnology companies, which experience volatility in the market price of their securities. Litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources, which could adversely affect our business.

The sale of a substantial number of shares may adversely affect the market price for our common stock.

Sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could significantly and negatively affect the market price for our common stock. As of September 30, 2006, we had 200,000,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance and 66,177,216 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, as of September 30, 2006, we have reserved for future issuance approximately 22,821,074 shares of common stock for our stock plans, potential milestone payments and outstanding warrants.
 
34


In addition, we have issued common stock to certain parties, such as vendors and service providers, as payment for products and services. Under these arrangements, we typically agree to register the shares for resale soon after their issuance. We may continue to pay for certain goods and services in this manner, which would dilute your interest in us. Also, sales of the shares issued in this manner could negatively affect the market price of our stock.

Our undesignated preferred stock may inhibit potential acquisition bids; this may adversely affect the market price for our common stock and the voting rights of holders of our common stock.

Our certificate of incorporation provides our Board of Directors with the authority to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock and to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of these shares without further vote or action by our stockholders. As of the date of this filing, 50,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the Board of Directors still has authority to designate and issue up to 2,950,000 shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may delay or prevent a change in control transaction without further action by our stockholders. As a result, the market price of our common stock may be adversely affected.

In addition, if we issue preferred stock in the future that has preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stock, the rights of holders of our common stock or the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

Provisions in our share purchase rights plan, charter and bylaws, and provisions of Delaware law, may inhibit potential acquisition bids for us, which may prevent holders of our common stock from benefiting from what they believe may be the positive aspects of acquisitions and takeovers.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a share purchase rights plan, commonly referred to as a “poison pill.” This plan entitles existing stockholders to rights, including the right to purchase shares of common stock, in the event of an acquisition of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock.

Our share purchase rights plan could prevent stockholders from profiting from an increase in the market value of their shares as a result of a change of control of us by delaying or preventing a change of control. In addition, our Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue additional shares of common stock, and to fix the rights and preferences of one or more series of preferred stock.

In addition to our share purchase rights plan and the undesignated preferred stock, provisions of our charter documents and bylaws may make it substantially more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us and may prevent changes in our management, including provisions that:

·  
prevent stockholders from taking actions by written consent;

·  
divide the Board of Directors into separate classes with terms of office that are structured to prevent all of the directors from being elected in any one year; and

·  
set forth procedures for nominating directors and submitting proposals for consideration at stockholders' meetings.

Provisions of Delaware law may also inhibit potential acquisition bids for us or prevent us from engaging in business combinations. Either collectively or individually, these provisions may prevent holders of our common stock from benefiting from what they may believe are the positive aspects of acquisitions and takeovers, including the potential realization of a higher rate of return on their investment from these types of transactions.
 
35

 
In addition, we have severance agreements with several employees and a change of control severance plan which could require an acquiror to pay a higher price.

We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors and will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, we may incur additional indebtedness that may severely restrict or prohibit the payment of dividends.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 
 
None

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None
 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
Description 
10.1
Amended and Restated Geron Corporation Severance Plan (and Summary Plan Description), effective October 2, 2006.
 
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Form of Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Form of Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
  GERON CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ DAVID L. GREENWOOD
 
David L. Greenwood
 
Executive Vice President and Chief
 
Financial Officer (Duly Authorized
Date: October 30, 2006
Signatory)
 
 
36


 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
Description 
10.1
Amended and Restated Geron Corporation Severance Plan (and Summary Plan Description), effective October 2, 2006.
 
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Form of Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Form of Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated October 30, 2006.
 
 
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