Only 10 days after the US FDA removed a clinical hold on its sole pipeline asset imetelstat, Geron has partnered with Johnson & Johnson’s JanssenBiotech for the development and commercialisation of the telomerase inhibitor in a deal that could be worth uptoUS$935 M. As part of the deal, Janssen has the option to relinquish its rights to imetelstat at certain key development points, including after a primary analysis of an initial Phase II study in myelofibrosis.If successfully developed and approved, the drug will compete with Incyte/Novartis’Jakafi® (ruxolitinib).