AstraZeneca, Cellectis join forces to boost cell, gene therapy innovations

AstraZeneca announced a strategic collaboration and investment agreement with Cellectis, a leader in clinical-stage biotechnology. This partnership, valued initially at $105 million, signifies a substantial move in developing next-generation therapeutics, focusing on areas like oncology, immunology, and rare diseases, where medical needs remain high.

Leveraging Gene Editing Technologies for Novel Therapies

Under this agreement, AstraZeneca will utilize Cellectis’ advanced gene editing technologies and manufacturing capabilities. This collaboration aims to create innovative cell and gene therapy products, marking a substantial expansion in AstraZeneca’s capabilities within this field. The deal reserves 25 genetic targets exclusively for AstraZeneca, potentially leading to the development of up to 10 new candidate products.

Strategic Alliance Between AstraZeneca and Cellectis: Pioneering Future Treatments in Oncology and Rare Diseases. Photo courtesy of D Wells/Wikimedia Commons.

Industry Leaders Comment on the Collaboration

Marc Dunoyer of AstraZeneca emphasized the alignment of Cellectis’ gene editing and manufacturing skills with their expertise, noting AstraZeneca’s ongoing commitment to genomic medicine and cell therapy, especially in oncology and autoimmune diseases. André Choulika of Cellectis highlighted AstraZeneca’s expertise in developing and commercializing innovative medicines, suggesting that this collaboration would propel forward their pioneering research in gene editing and cell therapies.

Enhancing Capabilities in Cell and Genomic Therapy

This collaboration builds on AstraZeneca’s already established expertise in cell and genomic therapy. The company has made significant strides through various partnerships and investments over the past year, aiming to bring advanced cell therapies to cancer patients and progress in genomic medicines for rare diseases.

Detailed Financial Structure of the Collaboration

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Cellectis will receive an initial payment of $105 million from AstraZeneca. This includes a $25 million upfront cash payment and an $80 million equity investment. The initial investment represents approximately a 22% equity stake in Cellectis at $5 per share. A further investment of $140 million is expected in early 2024, potentially increasing AstraZeneca’s total equity stake in Cellectis to about 44%. The agreement also includes provisions for additional payments to Cellectis based on development, regulatory, and sales milestones, along with royalties on products developed through this collaboration.

AstraZeneca will retain an exclusive worldwide license option for the candidate products developed, a crucial aspect of their larger strategic vision in biotechnology and healthcare innovation.