Geron Corporation has appointed Harout Semerjian as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 7, 2025, as the biopharmaceutical company works to expand commercial reach of its telomerase inhibitor RYTELO and advance late-stage clinical programs. Semerjian succeeds Dawn Carter Bir, who has served as Interim President and CEO since March 2025 and will continue as a Board of Directors member.
Extensive Leadership Experience in Hematology and Oncology
Semerjian brings over 30 years of commercial experience in hematology and oncology from leadership positions at major pharmaceutical companies. At Novartis, he played a key role in the global launch and commercial strategy of Gleevec® and KISQALI®. He subsequently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Ipsen, overseeing global commercial strategy across multiple therapeutic areas.
Most recently, Semerjian served as CEO of GlycoMimetics, where he guided the company through its acquisition by Gilead Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Lebanon American University and an MBA from Cornell University and Queen's University, Canada.
RYTELO Commercial Progress and Pipeline Advancement
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Geron focuses on increasing awareness and accessibility of RYTELO, its first-in-class telomerase inhibitor approved in the United States and European Union for treating certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion-dependent anemia.
Under previous leadership, Geron achieved rapid commercial uptake of RYTELO with over 1,000 active ordering accounts within the first quarters of commercialization through expanded physician education and payer engagement. The company is simultaneously advancing its late-stage pipeline, including completion of the pivotal Phase 3 IMpactMF trial in relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis.
Financial Performance and Market Outlook
Geron reported first-quarter 2025 earnings that met analysts' expectations with an earnings per share of -0.03, though revenue of $39.6 million fell short of the anticipated $50.46 million. The company maintains a strong liquidity position with more cash than debt on its balance sheet, despite experiencing rapid cash burn.
Wall Street analysts maintain an "Outperform" consensus recommendation for Geron, with an average price target of $3.39 representing potential upside of 182.41%. However, Goldman Sachs resumed coverage with a Sell rating and $1.00 price target due to disappointing sales of RYTELO.
According to Elizabeth O'Farrell, Chairman of Geron's Board of Directors, Semerjian is well-suited to lead the company into its next chapter of growth as it works to reshape treatment paradigms for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and advance its telomerase inhibition platform.
