AstraZeneca Inks Investment Agreement with Cellectis to Accelerate Next Generation Therapeutics

The partnership aims to combine cutting-edge gene editing and cell therapy research with our advanced manufacturing technology to deliver life-saving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.

In collaboration with a clinical-stage biotechnology company, Cellectis, AstraZeneca has inked an investment agreement to accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics in areas of high unmet need, including oncology, immunology and rare diseases.

As per the agreement, AstraZeneca will leverage Cellectis' proprietary gene editing technologies and manufacturing capabilities to design novel cell and gene therapy products, strengthening AstraZeneca's growing offering in this space.

Further, 25 genetic targets have been exclusively reserved for AstraZeneca, from which up to 10 candidate products could be explored for development.

The partnership aims to combine cutting-edge gene editing and cell therapy research with our advanced manufacturing technology to deliver life-saving therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.

Sharing his views, Marc Dunoyer, chief strategy officer, AstraZeneca, and CEO Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, said, "The differentiated capabilities Collectis has in gene editing and manufacturing complement our in-house expertise and investments made in the past year AstraZeneca continues to advance our ambition in cell therapy for oncology and autoimmune diseases as well as in genomic medicine, which has potential to be transformative for patients with rare diseases."

Talking about financial considerations, in Q4 2023, Cellectis will receive an initial payment of $105 million from AstraZeneca, which comprises a $25 million upfront cash payment under the terms of a research collaboration agreement and an $80 million equity investment.

Under the terms of the research collaboration, Collectis is also eligible to receive an investigational new drug (IND) option fee and development, regulatory and sales-related milestone payments, ranging from $70 million up to $220 million, per each of the 10 candidates products, plus tiered royalties

Additionally, AstraZeneca has retained an option for a worldwide exclusive license for the candidate products developed under the research collaboration agreement, which is to be exercised before IND filing.

Founded in 1999, through the merger of the Swedish Astra AB and the British Zeneca Group, AstraZeneca has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas including oncology, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory, and inflammation. Moreover, it has been involved in developing the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

In September this year, AstraZeneca's rare disease unit Alexion signed a purchase and licence agreement for a rare disease programme portfolio from Pfizer Inc. Reportedly, the sale included tiered sales royalties.

Further, the deal offered resources to expand AstraZeneca's genomic medicine capabilities and help it develop genetic therapies that are safer and more effective.