As of March 2019, Geron Corporation (GERN) experienced a significant 27% surge in February following the announcement that a former Johnson & Johnson researcher, Aleksandra Rizo, was appointed as its chief medical officer. This development instilled confidence in investors, leading to a rally in GERN shares. Prior to this positive turn of events, J&J decided to discontinue the codevelopment of Geron’s imetelstat, dealing a blow to Geron’s prospects. The termination meant missing out on potential milestone revenue and royalties that could have resulted from advancing imetelstat into FDA trials. The limited efficacy in myelofibrosis and unconvincing data in MDS were cited as reasons for J&J’s withdrawal from the collaboration. However, the appointment of Rizo, who previously spearheaded imetelstat development at J&J, injected optimism into Geron’s future. The continuity of expertise in imetelstat’s development under Rizo’s leadership fueled investor optimism, driving the stock price up. Looking back at the $500 investment in GERN five years ago, considering the growth in the investment from $500 to $566, the decision to hold onto the investment would have yielded a moderate return. This signifies the importance of staying informed about key developments within the company and the industry to make informed investment decisions. Moving forward, investors should monitor Geron’s progress in advancing imetelstat, particularly in addressing the previous efficacy concerns, and keep an eye on any potential partnerships or developments that could impact the stock price. While past performance is not indicative of future results, staying updated on Geron’s pipeline and leadership changes can provide valuable insights into the company’s growth trajectory.