Geron Appoints Harout Semerjian as President and CEO

Geron Corporation has appointed Harout Semerjian as its new President and CEO, effective tomorrow. Semerjian brings over 30 years of experience in hematology and oncology from his tenure at Novartis, Ipsen, and GlycoMimetics. He succeeds Dawn Carter Bir, who will continue to support the company as a member of its Board of Directors. Geron is focusing on its Phase 3 trial for relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis and aims to expand the reach and impact of its flagship product, RYTELO.

Geron Corporation (GERN) has appointed Harout Semerjian as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 7, 2025. Semerjian, a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with over 30 years of experience in hematology and oncology, succeeds Dawn Carter Bir, who will continue to support the company as a member of its Board of Directors [1][2][3].

Semerjian brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at Novartis, Ipsen, and GlycoMimetics. At Novartis, he played a key role in the global launch and commercial strategy of Gleevec® and KISQALI®. At Ipsen, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing global commercial strategy across multiple therapeutic areas. His most recent role was as CEO of GlycoMimetics, where he guided the company through its acquisition by Gilead Sciences [1][2][3].

Geron is focusing on its Phase 3 trial for relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis and aims to expand the reach and impact of its flagship product, RYTELO. RYTELO is a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor with the potential to reshape treatment paradigms for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Under Semerjian's leadership, Geron has expanded physician education and payer engagement, leading to rapid uptake of RYTELO with over 1,000 active ordering accounts within the first quarters of commercialization [1][2][3].

Semerjian's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Geron. The company is working to increase awareness and accessibility of RYTELO and to advance its late-stage pipeline, including the completion of the pivotal Phase 3 IMpactMF trial in relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis [1][2][3].

References:
[1] https://oncodaily.com/career/harout-semerjian
[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/geron-appoints-harout-semerjian-ceo
[3] https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/geron-appoints-harout-semerjian-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer