Why I think April is a possibility

[biotech_bs]

Scarlett has made significant money in his previous positions and from what I understand he didn't need to work again. I do recall him discussing whether he should jump back into the mix with Geron. I don't believe he is sitting around so he can collect a paycheck like many on the Yahoo board believe. It's unlikely that he would be continuing to hang around Geron if he did not think Imetelstat was going to be a big winner. If Janssen was to bail I'm sure Scarlett will be gone as he's not going to stick around several more years for Geron to develop Imet on it's own. I'm confident Scarlett is not trying to bluff but he is sticking around until all the chips are played and everyone shows their hand.

[irishtrader52]

Hello Imetelstat Friends - I would also hope that we have news in April. April 2017 will be 4 years since John had his 1st infusion in the Mayo pilot study. Remember he took the last seat in the pilot and all subsequent participants were ad hoc. John returned from Mayo MN last week and completed his 45th infusion. He is doing well. Disease stable. Normal lifestyle. We want him back on 9.5 mg (currently 7.5/3 week intervals) - working on it but until some decisions are made "company" resistant to dosage change. Will be working to remove that obstacle if nothing changes by end of June. Other than that happy and well. Imetelstat seems to have turned John's MF (cannot speak for anyone else) into a chronic disease. We should get some decisions soon - I could not have imagined I would be posting for 4 years! John's prognosis was 3 years max and drugs are typically approved in 3 years. Go figure...

[biopearl]

Hi Irish, Thanks for the update. Wonderful to hear John (and you) are doing well. There must be some other patients in the imetelstat fraternal order that you run into on infusion days, can you let us know how any of them are doing? Oh, and Sargasso, you can play poker with me anytime, be sure to bring your handbook and plenty of money. (heh, heh), just don't bring Scarlett, its not for nothing that he likes sharks. Best wishes, bp

[biopearl]

By the way four years is extraordinary especially given John original prognosis. I think the reason this is all taking so darn long is that J and J will provide clear longevity data, the longer the better. bp

[irishtrader52]

Hi Bio, First I want to reminisce about how you were the 1st one to jump in and counter some of the attacks I received when I first very tentatively posted on the old yahoo board all those years ago when the first Mayo pilot study "news" was so good and unprecedented. Since then, I think many patients - as investors - have just given up. Took their chips to a new table even if winning - or not losing. The grass always greener at the next poker table. Patience and persistence is hard in these circumstanes. Yes, John's OS:LE is amazing and he was high risk MF with complex karotype and significant fibrosis. I really have no idea what JJ is up to...I never completely understood the rationale for the Imerge/Imbark design. So just watching and waiting as you. Watching and waiting for every blood test, for news if drug will always be available to him, and for decisions all these years is hard even if alternative is worse. This is indeed the endless study but end seems to be in sight. We will not give up. We still believe in the science. The power politics are another story. Best~

[biopearl]

Hi Irish, thanks for your note and kind words. Yes I remember the "is Irish real" controversy well. But I knew you were because of your sincerity, defending you was easy for that reason alone and I was amazed at how many unkind people were posting awfulness to a family with a member with cancer. I hope you had a chance to review the note I left for you on this board on New Year's day. At the risk of sounding sappy I meant it. The idea of a life prolonged in a happy and productive way touches me deeply. I have seen many that could not be. Yes many have taken their "chips" and gone home (thankfully not our poker playing Sargasso!) I remain in part because of you and John and the virtual miracle a normal bone marrow that used to be concrete represents. Scarlett is a mystery. Let me count the ways: 1. The promised follow on Mayo study that never happened. 2. The FDA hold that should have been avoided by careful planning and communication with that body. 3. The promised acquisition. 4. The non existent AML study. 5. The failure to present all the Mayo data years after Tefferi's study began. 6. The apparent failure to capitalize and expand the Yale study data. 7. The failure to respect and inform his investors. 8. The mysterious court case, kept under wraps. But Irish's John and his miracle negate them all and keep me in the game. The promise of manipulation of the telomere is unfathomable. Just the potential to bind to it and bring a toxic agent to it selectively, surely there is a future here. As Jerry Garcia said, sometimes you get to see the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right. You said it best, do not give up. Best wishes to you and John and thanks for keeping in touch. bp