AstraZeneca Invests $140M for 44% Stake in CAR-T Firm Cellectis

AstraZeneca has finalized a significant investment in Cellectis, a French gene-editing company specializing in CAR-T immunotherapies for oncology. The $140 million investment gives AstraZeneca a 44% stake in Cellectis. This strategic move follows a previous agreement between the two companies, which was initially worth $105 million and involved an $80 million equity investment and a $25 million upfront payment.

The deal, originally announced in November 2023, required several approvals before it could be finalized. Specifically, Cellectis needed to consult with employee representatives, gain shareholder approval, and secure authorization from the French government. As of Monday, Cellectis confirmed it had received the necessary clearance from the French Ministry of Economy, allowing AstraZeneca to complete its $140 million investment.

With this investment, AstraZeneca has become a major shareholder in Cellectis, holding approximately 44% of the company's share capital and 30% of its voting rights. This significant stake has also earned AstraZeneca two seats on Cellectis’ board of directors, filled by Tyrell Rivers, executive director of corporate development at AstraZeneca, and Marc Dunoyer, CEO of AstraZeneca’s Alexion unit.

Rivers and Dunoyer will work closely with Cellectis as the biotech seeks to advance its development pipeline under this new partnership. The agreement reserves 25 genetic targets for AstraZeneca, with Cellectis potentially developing up to 10 candidates. During an earnings call in February 2024, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot highlighted this deal as part of a broader strategy that includes partnerships with Neogene Therapeutics, Quell Therapeutics, and Gracell Biotechnologies. These collaborations aim to bolster AstraZeneca’s capabilities in cell therapy, including treatments for solid tumors, off-the-shelf candidates, and immune diseases.

The financial boost from AstraZeneca has significantly strengthened Cellectis' position. As of September 2023, Cellectis had $67.4 million in cash and cash equivalents. The initial $105 million from AstraZeneca, coupled with a 15 million euro loan, was projected to support operations for at least the next 12 months. Now, with the additional $140 million investment, Cellectis anticipates having sufficient funds to sustain its operations into 2026.

This extended financial runway allows Cellectis more time to focus on developing its clinical candidates. The company currently has three wholly owned CAR-T candidates in clinical trials for blood cancers and plans to provide data updates on these assets within the year. Specifically, Cellectis aims to establish the recommended Phase II dose for its CAR-T cell therapies targeting CD22 and CD20xCD22, in addition to sharing dosage data for its CD123 asset.

Cellectis' CAR-T cell therapies are developed using its proprietary Talen gene-editing platform. This technology enables the creation of off-the-shelf cell therapies, potentially simplifying the logistical challenges often associated with autologous treatments. Before forming its partnership with AstraZeneca, Cellectis licensed some of its technology to Pfizer, which later transferred these assets to Allogene Therapeutics. Allogene was founded by former executives from Kite Pharma, a company acquired by Gilead Sciences.

This strategic partnership marks a significant step forward for both AstraZeneca and Cellectis in the rapidly evolving landscape of CAR-T immunotherapies and gene editing.