FDA Advisers Back Geron's Proposed Blood Disorder Drug Despite Side Effect Concerns

• Geron's proposed blood disorder drug, imetelstat, received backing from FDA advisers who voted 12-2 that benefits outweigh risks • Concerns were raised about high rates of low red blood cell count side effects, but most advisers agreed these could be managed • Imetelstat aims to treat transfusion-dependent anemia in a blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) • If approved, imetelstat would be Geron's first commercial drug and compete with Bristol Myers Squibb's Reblozyl • FDA decision expected by June 16; agency not bound to follow advisory panel recommendation