Geron Corporation Hires Stifel to Sell Stem Cell Assets, CEO Says

Geron Corp. hired Stifel Nicolaus & Co. to sell its embryonic stem cell therapy, the first approved in the U.S., as the company changes its focus to cancer drugs, Chief Executive Officer John Scarlett said. Geron is actively talking to interested parties, Scarlett said today during a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference in San Francisco. The Menlo Park, California-based company announced in November it would end its program testing the stem cell therapy in spinal-cord injury patients because of financial reasons. The shares declined the most in 11 years.