Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a biopharmaceutical leader focused on transforming the treatment of blood cancers, announced today the appointment of Joseph Eid, M.D., as Executive Vice President of Research and Development (R&D), effective November 11, 2024. In his new role, Dr. Eid will oversee Geron’s medical, clinical, and safety/pharmacovigilance teams, driving innovative strategies that support the commercialization of RYTELO™ (imetelstat) and further R&D initiatives.
Dr. Eid brings over 20 years of experience in clinical development, drug life-cycle management, and medical affairs within the biopharmaceutical industry. His career includes leadership roles across both large and small biopharma companies, where he built and led global medical affairs and clinical development teams, particularly within hematology and oncology.
“Joe’s impressive track record of leading drug development and regulatory success across global markets, particularly in hematology and oncology, makes him an ideal fit for Geron,” said John A. Scarlett, M.D., Geron’s Chairman and CEO. “With Joe’s leadership, alongside our strengthened team—including Jim Ziegler, EVP of Commercial, and Dr. Faye Feller, Chief Medical Officer—we are poised for continued success as we expand RYTELO‘s reach and accelerate the growth of our hematology pipeline.”
Dr. Eid most recently led research, clinical development, and medical affairs at Dragonfly Therapeutics and Luzsana Bio (a subsidiary of Hengrui Pharmaceuticals). He previously served at Merck, where he was integral to the development of KEYTRUDA® and later led Merck’s Oncology Global Medical Affairs. He also held senior roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche, driving large-scale global initiatives in oncology. Dr. Eid’s career also includes a foundational role in academic hematology, having served as Assistant Professor in the Hematology Department at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
“I am excited to join Geron at this pivotal moment in the company’s journey,” said Dr. Eid. “I look forward to building on the company’s strong R&D foundation in hematologic malignancies and expanding RYTELO’s potential to help patients in need worldwide.”
In connection with his appointment, Geron has granted Dr. Eid a non-statutory stock option to purchase 2,500,000 shares of Geron common stock, with a four-year vesting schedule, as part of his employment inducement.
About Geron
Geron is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to changing the lives of patients with blood cancers. The company’s first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, RYTELO™ (imetelstat), is approved in the U.S. for treating certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia. Geron is also advancing imetelstat in pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials for JAK-inhibitor relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis (R/R MF) and exploring other hematologic malignancies.
