Dr Kelsey will manage the operational and strategic activities of the company’s oncology programs. He will report to Thomas Okarma, Geron’s president and CEO. Mr Movahhed will be responsible for all oncology clinical operations and will report to Dr Kelsey.
Dr Kelsey joins Geron from Genentech where he was vice-president, clinical hematology/oncology, responsible for a broad range of oncology development programs spanning pre-Phase I through marketed products.
Mr Movahhed was most recently at Elan Biopharmaceuticals where he was vice president and head of global clinical operations. He has had long tenures at Bristol Myers Squibb and Amgen, also heading clinical operations. Mr Movahhed has broad experience in clinical trials, including studies in oncology as well as nephrology, rheumatology, cardiology and CNS disease.
Dr Okarma said: “We are very pleased to engage Stephen at this point in the clinical development program as we demonstrate telomerase inhibition in patients treated with imetelstat (GRN163L). He brings extensive experience in the clinical development of oncology drugs that will build on and complement the strengths of our existing team.”