Geron Gains on Cancer Therapy

Geron Corp. on Tuesday won a U.S. patent for technology to develop immune-system-based cancer therapies, news that sent the biotechnology company’s stock up 15%.

The patent covers Geron technology for stimulating the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells by targeting telomerase, a protein linked to cancer growth.

The technology may be used to develop vaccines against a wide range of cancers, the Menlo Park, Calif.-based company said.

“Cancer vaccines are an important development on the horizon, and this is another potentially very effective way to interrupt telomerase activity,” said David Greenwood, Geron’s chief financial officer.

The approach entails treating cells taken from a patient with fragments of telomerase. When the cells are given back to the patient, they stir an immune-system response to attack cancer cells containing telomerase.

Geron said it is evaluating a telomerase vaccine in early studies in patients with prostate cancer.

The company also is developing drugs designed to block telomerase directly.

Shares of Geron rose 59 cents to $4.44 on Nasdaq.