Wall Street Battle Between David & Goliath: Advanced Cell Technology vs. Geron Corporation

A battle is underway between two Regenerative medicine front-runners using stem cells. The conflict will reshape the world’s health care system by treating and curing millions suffering from previously untreatable disease.

The battle is not taking place in a foreign land, but waging on Wall Street and laboratories all over the United States. Our David is Advanced Cell Technology and our Goliath is Geron Corporation. No matter the victor, the societal implications are of a truly biblical nature to the world.

www.investorstemcell.com is assisting thousands of investors navigate this highly volatile sector with the world’s only online discussion forum dedicated to the Regenerative medicine sector.

This week’s comparison:
Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), Approved by the FDA to use human embryonic stem cell (hESC) treatments to treat spinal cord injuries. The research Goliath is a well-funded machine employing the top minds in the world working on everything from mid-stage oncology trials to promising (hESC) drugs for spinal cord injuries, heart disease and cancer.

Snap shot of Goliath: Geron Corpoartion -(NASDAQ:GERN)-
• Seven oncology Phase 2 trials currently underway, and has several big Pharma joint venture agreements in oncology animal and human trials
• Five hESC areas of investigation underway. GRNOPC1 is the lead candidate. Geron destroys the human embryo through its (hESC) R&D, of which the company uses the blastocyst embryo formation at day five after fertilization from IVF clinics
• Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities: $221,274.000.00
• Total operating expenses in 2010: $114,730,000.00
• 175 employees; over 100 hold PhD or MD degrees
• Geron Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Menlo Park, California
• Trades on the NASDAQ providing liquidity and large institutional investors
• Corporate financial statements: http://www.geron.com/investors/reports/GeronAnnualReport2010.pdf



Advanced Cell Technology is the David and not too long ago was the predominant leader in the field of regenerative medicine. It has fallen from that distinction in part due to executive management hubris and ultimately the credit crisis in mid-2008. ACT was able to resurrect itself from near bankruptcy in June 2008 and now has the distinction of holding two out of the three FDA approved (hESC) trials. ACT is led by a competent executive management team and employs several of the most predominant regenerative researcher(s) in the world.

Snap shot of David: Advanced Cell Technology -(OTC:ACTC)-
• Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Program is their lead program-(HESC) trials for both SMD/AMD are expected to start in week(s) Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA ) will conduct the 2 (hESC) trials for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD) and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• Filed a European Clinical Trial Application for Phase 1/2 study using (hESC) to treat macular degeneration
• Issued a broad patent for hESC-derived RPE cells in China
• Seeking funding and joint venture partner for Myoblast program for the treatment of cardiovascular disease Phase 2 approved by the FDA
• Joint ventured with Korean medical giant CHA to form “Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine International” (SCRMI). This partnership expected to file an investigational new drug application (IND) with the FDA in Q-4 of this year. CHA biotech is waiting for final approval from the Korea Food and Drug Administration for (hESC) trial for AMD
• Issued patent on its “single-blastomere” technique. Patent Number 7,893,315 broadly covers ACT’s proprietary single-blastomere technology that provides a non-destructive alternative for deriving hESC lines. This “Embryo-Safe” one-cell biopsy approach similar to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is widely used in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process and does not interfere with the embryo’s developmental potential
• 22 full-time employees, six hold PhD or MD degrees-Formed in 1994, HQ in Menlo Park, California with laboratory facilities in Marlborough, MA
• Total operating expenses in 2010: $22,044,701
• Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities: $34,889,409
• Trades on the OTC:BB ACTC is a Sarbanes–Oxley Act SEC reporter
• Corporate financial statements: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140098/000101376211000631/form10k.htm

ACTC offers maximum return on investment (ROI) in the short term. If ACT is validated by the FDA, the (RPE) MA-09 “embryo-safe” cell lines would open up an annual $25,000,000,000.00 market treating (AMD). No FDA approved treatment exist for (AMD) in the world. This disease affects 30 million in the USA and EU alone. ACT has global aspirations of being the dominant player in regenerative medicine and is currently working in the USA, EU, China and South Korea on this endeavor. Dr. Raymond Lund Ph.D., considered one of the world’s foremost experts in retinal cell physiology and vision restoration. Dr. Lund recently said: “The study results of ACT’s RPE cells implanted in the various animal models of macular degeneration was phenomenal. If ACT observes even a fraction of that benefit in humans, it will be nothing short of a home run"

Disclosure: www.investorstemcell.com is the world’s only online discussion forum dedicated bringing investors and stakeholders together in thoughtful discussion about stem cell and regenerative medicine.

www.investorstemcell.com nor any of its Companies have been compensated by “any” party for this article. Before making an investment decision an investor should perform due diligence. Once completed find out what the street thinks at www.investorstemcell.com

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