Several companies including Geron (GERN – Free Report) and OncoMed (OMED – Free Report) provided key pipeline updates this week. While Geron’s shares were up this week, OncoMed’s shares plunged and hit a 52-week low.

Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories

Geron Up on Interim Data: Geron’s shares were up 19.5% on the completion of the second internal data review of the studies being conducted on the company’s telomerase inhibitor imetelstat. The studies, IMerge and IMbark, are being conducted in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and relapsed or refractory myelofibrosis (MF), respectively. However, development partner Janssen will take a decision regarding the commencement of the phase III stage of the IMerge study later this year and a decision regarding the continued development of imetelstat for the relapsed or refractory MF indication next year. Geron is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.

OncoMed Slumps on Study Failure: Clinical-stage company, OncoMed, suffered back-to-back setbacks with a pipeline candidate failing in a mid-stage study and a partner pulling out of a collaboration. The company said that demcizumab failed to achieve the primary endpoint in a phase II study conducted in treatment-naïve metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. OncoMed has decided to discontinue the study and is conducting additional analyses with its partner, Celgene (CELG – Free Report) .