Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) was ranked number 5 of companies listed in the biotechnology patent scorecard published in the Feb. 12 issue of The Wall Street Journal.

The ranking, which is based on the strength of Geron’s science as measured by the scale, quality, impact and nearness to the core science of the company’s intellectual property portfolio, reflects Geron’s dominant patent position in pioneering technologies including an anti-cancer drug and vaccine targeting telomerase and cell therapies being developed from the company’s human embryonic stem cell platform. Geron owns or licenses 34 issued U.S. patents, over 60 issued foreign patents and more than 230 patent applications that are pending worldwide in the area of human embryonic stem cells. The company owns or licenses 109 issued U.S. patents, over 170 issued foreign patents and more than 160 patent applications that are pending worldwide related to its telomerase technology.

“Our expansive intellectual property portfolio is a solid foundation for our development of human embryonic stem cell-based therapeutics and anti-cancer products that inhibit or target telomerase,” said Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron’s president and chief executive officer. “More important than the number of filings, the breadth and depth of the claim sets included in each patent application, combined with where we are in product development, protects our leadership position in two novel fields of science and medicine. We are pleased to see the significance of our work and the resulting patent filings recognized.”

About Geron

Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases, including spinal cord injury, heart failure and diabetes. The company is advancing an anti-cancer drug and a cancer vaccine that target the enzyme telomerase through multiple clinical trials. Geron is also the world leader in the development of human embryonic stem cell-based therapeutics, with its spinal cord injury treatment anticipated to be the first product to enter clinical development. For more information, visit www.geron.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release regarding potential applications of Geron’s human embryonic stem cell and telomerase technologies constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

Contacts:

Russo Partners, LLC
Media and Investors:
David Schull, 858-717-2310
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
or
Russo Partners, LLC
Tracey Milani, 619-814-3511
tracey.milani@russopartnersllc.com
or
Geron
David L. Greenwood, 650-473-7765
Chief Financial Officer
info@geron.com