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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2003

OR

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM        TO        .

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-20859

GERON CORPORATION

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

230 CONSTITUTION DRIVE, MENLO PARK, CA 94025
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (650) 473-7700

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

COMMON STOCK $0.001 PAR VALUE
(TITLE OF CLASS)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
     Yes x No o

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No o

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

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GERON CORPORATION

INDEX

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

GERON CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS)

See accompanying notes.

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GERON CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes.

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GERON CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes.

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GERON CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2003
(UNAUDITED)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

     The terms “Geron”, the “Company”, “we” and “us” as used in this report refer to Geron Corporation. The accompanying condensed consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2003 and condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the management of Geron Corporation, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2003 or any other period. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date.

Principles of Consolidation

     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Geron Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Geron Bio-Med Ltd., a United Kingdom company. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The financial statements of the Company’s subsidiary outside the United States are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of this subsidiary are translated at rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resultant translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly foreign exchange rates.

Net Loss Per Share

     Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on weighted average shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. Diluted earnings (loss) per share includes any dilutive effect of options, warrants and convertible securities.

     A reconciliation of shares used in calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share follows:

     Because the Company is in a net loss position, diluted earnings per share is also calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and excludes the effects of options, warrants and convertible securities which are antidilutive. Had the Company been in a net income position, diluted earnings per share would have included the shares used in the computation of basic net loss per share as well as an additional 171,713 shares and 504,014 shares for 2003 and 2002, respectively related to outstanding options, warrants and convertible securities not included above (as determined using the treasury stock method at average market price during the period).

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Use of Estimates

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Equivalents and Marketable Debt Securities Available-For-Sale

     The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company is subject to credit risk related to its cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in money market funds and commercial paper.

     The Company classifies its marketable debt securities as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments. Realized gains and losses are included in interest and other income and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold and have been immaterial to date. Declines in market value judged other-than-temporary result in a charge to interest income. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. The Company’s investments include corporate notes in United States corporations with original maturities ranging from one to 16 months.

Revenue Recognition

     Since the Company’s inception, a substantial portion of its revenues has been generated from license and research agreements with collaborators. The Company recognizes revenue under these collaborative agreements as the related research and development costs are incurred. Milestone fees are recognized upon completion of specified milestones according to contract terms. Deferred revenue represents the portion of research payments received which have not been earned.

     The Company also has several license, option and marketing agreements with various companies in fields such as diagnostics, research tools, agriculture, biologics production and cancer therapeutics. With each of these agreements, the Company receives nonrefundable license payments in cash or equity securities, option payments in cash or equity securities, royalties on future sales of products, or any combination of these items. Nonrefundable signing or license fees that are not dependent on future performance under these agreements are recognized as revenue when received and over the term of the arrangement if the Company has continuing performance obligations. Option payments are recognized as revenue over the period of the option agreement. Royalties are generally recognized upon receipt.

Restricted Cash

     As of June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the Company held $530,000 in a Certificate of Deposit as collateral on an unused line of credit.

Marketable and Non-Marketable Equity Investments in Licensees

     Equity in nonpublic companies is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Equity in public companies is carried at market value as of the balance sheet date. Unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains or losses are included in interest and other income and are derived using the specific identification method. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (SFAS 115), requires companies to determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is other than temporary. If a decline in fair value is determined to be other than temporary, SFAS 115 requires the carrying value of the debt or equity security to be written down to its fair value. No such writedowns were recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.

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Derivative Financial Instruments

     The Company retains a warrant to purchase preferred stock in a private company. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended (SFAS 133), the Company accounts for the warrant as a derivative financial instrument. Accordingly, the warrant is recorded at fair value as of the balance sheet date based on the Black-Scholes valuation of such instruments in comparable companies and other indicators of the investment’s value. Any gains or losses in fair value are recorded in interest and other income. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

     In connection with an equity payment agreement with a legal services firm, in March 2003 the Company issued 250,465 shares of common stock at $3.39 per share in exchange for the elimination of approximately $849,000 payable to the law firm. The Company has agreed to review the potential proceeds received from the sale of these shares on November 23, 2003. Any shortfall will be payable to the law firm in cash. The Company accounts for this potential liability as a derivative financial instrument. Accordingly, in the event the closing price of the Company’s common stock is less than the price initially received, the Company will record the fair value of such liability at the balance sheet date. No such liability was recorded as of June 30, 2003.

     The Company’s exposure to currency exchange fluctuation risk is insignificant. Geron Bio-Med, Ltd., the Company’s international subsidiary, satisfies its financial obligations almost exclusively in its local currency. For 2003, there was an insignificant currency exchange impact from intercompany transactions. The Company does not engage in foreign currency hedging activities.

Intangible Asset and Research Funding Obligation

     In May 1999, the Company completed the acquisition of Roslin Bio-Med Ltd., a privately held company formed by the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland. In connection with this acquisition, the Company formed a research collaboration with the Roslin Institute and committed approximately $20,000,000 in research funding over six years. Using an effective interest rate of 6%, this research funding obligation had a net present value of $17,200,000 and has been capitalized as an intangible asset that is being amortized as research and development expense over six years. Imputed interest is also being accreted to the value of the research funding obligation and is recognized as interest expense.

Research and Development Expenses

     All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The value of acquired in-process research and development is charged to expense on the date of acquisition. Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, payroll and personnel expense, lab supplies, preclinical studies, raw materials to manufacture clinical trial drugs, manufacturing costs, sponsored research at other labs, consulting, and research-related overhead. Accrued liabilities for raw materials to manufacture clinical trial drugs, manufacturing costs, legal fees and sponsored research reimbursement fees are included in accrued liabilities and research and development expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization

     The Company records property and equipment at cost and calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally four years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the remaining term of the lease.

Employee Stock Plans

     As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123), the Company elected to continue to apply the provisions of Accounting Principle Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25), and related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock option and stock purchase plans. The Company is generally not required under APB 25 and related interpretations to recognize compensation expense in connection with its employee stock option and stock purchase plans when the exercise prices of the options equals the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

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     Pro forma information regarding net loss and net loss per share is required by SFAS 123 and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options under the fair value method prescribed by the SFAS 123. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: risk-free interest rates ranging from 1.57% to 2.96% for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 3.37% to 4.81% for the comparable period in 2002; a dividend yield of 0.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002; a volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock of 1.0388 and 0.8807 as of June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively; and a weighted average expected life of the options of 4 years for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.

     For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the vesting period of the options using the straight-line method. The Company’s pro forma information follows:

     The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s employee stock options and employee stock purchase plans have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair market value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options, nor do they necessarily represent the effects of employee stock options on reported net income (loss) for future years.

Comprehensive Loss

     Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive loss includes certain changes in equity that are excluded from net loss.

     The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows: