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geron 5/10/2021 Geron Corporation Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Recent Highlights IMerge Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 75 % Enrolled and On Track to Complete Enrollment in Second Half of 2021 Two Abstracts Accepted by European Hematology Association for 2021 Virtual Congress Conference Call Scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET Today FOSTER CITY , Calif .-- ( BUSINESS WIRE ) -- Geron Corporation ( Nasdaq : GERN ) , a late - stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing a first - in - class telomerase inhibitor , imetelstat , to treat hematologic myeloid malignancies , today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31 , 2021 , as well as company highlights and upcoming events . As of March 31 , 2021 , the Company had $ 244.7 million in cash and marketable securities , which is expected to fund operations until the end of 2022 . " We have worked diligently over the past quarter to advance our two Phase 3 clinical trials with registrational intent , and we remain laser focused on improving outcomes for patients and delivering significant value to our shareholders , " said John A. Scarlett , M.D. , Geron's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer . " Completing 75 % of the planned enrollment in our MDS trial coupled with the recent dosing of the first patient in our MF trial indicate the continued progress we are making in our two Phase 3 clinical trials for imetelstat , " said Aleksandra Rizo , M.D. , Ph.D. , Geron's Chief Medical Officer . " We continue to have confidence in imetelstat's differentiating clinical benefits seen throughout the course of its development , including strong evidence of disease - modifying activity . We're excited to have another opportunity to highlight imetelstat's strong data profile through the two abstracts accepted for presentation at the upcoming European Hematology Association meeting . We look forward to achieving top - line results from our IMerge Phase 3 study and the promising path ahead for imetelstat . " Dr. Scarlett concluded , " We are excited about the progress we are making to bring this important drug to patients . We are planning for Geron to become a commercial company in 2023 with the potential launch of imetelstat in 1