Geron is a public oncology company that received FDA approval in July 2024 for its first commercial product, imetelstat. This is a formidable achievement for any biotech, but especially vindicating for Geron, which has overcome myriad challenges and displayed remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.

J&J saw early potential in imetelstat, shelling out $35 million upfront and promising another $900 million in milestones to partner on the drug a decade ago. Four years later, the company backed out of the collaboration, citing “a strategic portfolio evaluation and prioritization of assets.” J&J’s strategic pivot away from Geron cast a pall over the tiny company, and its stock price was crushed as a consequence. Through no fault of its own, Geron found itself in the difficult position of having to take its drugs across the finish line alone, a psychologically punishing and resource-heavy exercise.

At that low point, Chip Scarlett, Geron’s CEO, first engaged Occam to begin rebuilding the senior leadership team and Board to prepare for the arduous task ahead.