Divestiture, Clinical Study Updates, New Drug Application, and Quarterly Report - Research Report on Geron, NPS, Portola, MannKind, and Exact Sciences

NEW YORK, October 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Analysts' Corner announced new research reports highlighting Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN), NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NPSP), Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTLA), MannKind Corp. (NASDAQ: MNKD), and Exact Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

Geron Corporation Research Report

On October 1, 2013, Geron Corporation (Geron) reported the completion of the transaction for the divestiture of its stem cell assets, following an Asset Contribution Agreement it had entered with BioTime, Inc. (BioTime) and Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Asterias). Geron informed that it received approximately 6.5 million shares of Asterias Series A common stock, and it will receive royalties from Asterias for the sale of products that are commercialized, if any, in reliance upon Geron patents acquired by Asterias. The Company stated that it will distribute the Asterias Series A common stock received from Asterias to Geron's stockholders on a pro rata basis ("Series A Distribution"), other than with respect to fractional shares and stockholders in certain to-be-determined excluded jurisdictions, who will instead receive cash on a pro rata basis. According to Geron, it will set a record date, following notice from BioTime and Asterias that certain securities registration or qualification requirements have been met. Only Geron stockholders as of that record date will be eligible to participate in the Series A Distribution. The Full Research Report on Geron Corporation - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.AnalystsCorner.com/r/full_research_report/1ca9_GERN]

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NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Research Report

On October 14, 2013, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NPS) announced new findings from its STEPS 2 study supporting the long-term use of Gattex (teduglutide [rDNA origin]) for injection in adult patients with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). NPS further reported that Gattex is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Short Bowel Syndrome who are dependent on parenteral support in the US. Lauren Schwartz, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Study Investigator, commented, "We are pleased to see that long-term treatment with Gattex resulted in clinically meaningful reductions in parenteral support as seen in the previous STEPS study." Schwartz added, "Further, it is particularly encouraging that 13 patients achieved complete independence from parenteral support with long-term Gattex therapy. The ability to reduce or even completely eliminate the need for parenteral support could meaningfully impact the lives of patients with this rare and debilitating condition." The Full Research Report on NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.AnalystsCorner.com/r/full_research_report/441a_NPSP]

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Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Research Report

On October 9, 2013, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Portola) announced that it has initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical study of PRT2070, a novel, oral, dual spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. According to Portola, the compound is being developed for patients with genetically-defined hematologic cancers, as well as for patients who have failed therapy due to relapse or acquired mutations. John T. Curnutte, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development for Portola, stated, "We are pleased to advance our third wholly-owned program focused on addressing an unmet medical need into the clinic. Our goal with PRT2070 is to develop an effective and well- tolerated oral drug for the thousands of lymphoma and leukemia patients who are impacted by difficult- to-treat genetic subtypes or who become unresponsive to available therapies." Curnutte continued, "With PRT2070, we have seen promising in vitro activity in cell lines with specific mutations and in tumor cells that have lost sensitivity to other compounds due to acquired mutations. We look forward to seeing initial clinical data for this agent in 2014." The Full Research Report on Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.AnalystsCorner.com/r/full_research_report/102f_PTLA]

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MannKind Corp. Research Report

On October 14, 2013, MannKind Corp. (MannKind) announced that it has resubmitted a new drug application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 13, 2013, seeking approval for the marketing and sale of AFREZZA (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder with an indication to improve glycemic control in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. MannKind reported that the resubmission is based on the entire data set from the extensive AFREZZA clinical development program and particularly the positive results from two recent Phase 3 trials, one in patients with type 1 diabetes (study 171) and one in patients with type 2 diabetes (study 175). Alfred Mann, Chairman and CEO of MannKind stated, "We designed the recent studies with input and guidance from the FDA, and both achieved their primary efficacy endpoints and safety objectives." The Full Research Report on MannKind Corp. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.AnalystsCorner.com/r/full_research_report/044e_MNKD]

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Exact Sciences Corporation Research Report

On October 16, 2013, Exact Sciences Corporation (Exact Sciences) announced that it will host its Q3 2013 conference call on October 29, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. CT. The Company reported that the live and archived version of the webcast is accessible through its website. The Full Research Report on Exact Sciences Corporation - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.AnalystsCorner.com/r/full_research_report/9c49_EXAS]

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