After 33 years, Geron’s first approval marks a turn in Nobel-winning science

“Something’s going on at work,” he said. Geron’s blood cancer treatment, imetelstat (brand name Rytelo), a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, had just received FDA approval.

Feller was immediately thrilled, but the news “really hit home” when she logged onto her company’s website following the announcement.

“I saw the popup that said, ‘Now approved. Rytelo in the U.S.,’” she said. “That brought tears to my eyes.”