Geron says GE Healthcare started selling line of heart muscle cells for use in drug research

Geron says GE Healthcare launched toxicology test

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Stem cell drug developer Geron Corp. said Tuesday that GE Healthcare is selling a toxicology screening product the companies developed together.

Geron said the General Electric Co. unit has launched a line of human cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells. The cells will be used to determine if experimental drugs cause heart damage or other cardiac side effects. Geron said the cardiomyocytes are derived from a government-approved line of embryonic stem cells.

It said the human cardiomyocytes can be more sensitive than current tests, which are based on animal cells.

Geron shares rose 19 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $5.36 in afternoon trading.