REG - AstraZeneca PLC - AstraZeneca cell & gene therapy deal w/ Cellectis

AstraZenecaAnnouncement

01/11/2023 07:15

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RNS Number : 0074S  AstraZeneca PLC  01 November 2023

01 November 2023

AstraZeneca announces collaboration and investment agreement with Cellectis to
accelerate cell therapy and genomic medicine ambitions

Collaboration leverages the Cellectis gene editing technologies and
manufacturing capabilities, to develop up to 10 novel cell and gene therapy
candidate products

 

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

 

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, AstraZeneca will leverage the
Cellectis proprietary gene editing technologies and manufacturing
capabilities, to design novel cell and gene therapy products, strengthening
AstraZeneca's growing offering in this space. As part of the agreement, 25
genetic targets have been exclusively reserved for AstraZeneca, from which up
to 10 candidate products could be explored for development.

 

Marc Dunoyer, Chief Strategy Officer, AstraZeneca, and Chief Executive
Officer, Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, said: "The differentiated
capabilities Cellectis 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."

 

André Choulika, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Cellectis, said: "We believe
AstraZeneca is the perfect match to Cellectis by providing world-class
expertise in the development and the commercialisation of innovative
medicines. This collaboration will allow us to leverage our pioneering
research in gene editing and cell therapies, as well as our cutting-edge
capabilities in manufacturing with the ambition to bring potentially
life-saving therapies to patients with unmet medical need."

 

Building on AstraZeneca's own expertise in cell and genomic therapy, the
Company has enhanced its capabilities through several collaborations and
investments in the past year as part of its ambition to bring cell therapies
to more patients living with cancer and to advance genomic medicines for rare
diseases.

 

Financial considerations

In Q4 2023, Cellectis will receive an initial payment of $105m from
AstraZeneca, which comprises a $25m upfront cash payment under the terms of a
research collaboration agreement and an $80m equity investment.

 

The initial equity investment of $80m, at $5/share, represents an equity stake
of c. 22% in Cellectis. A further $140m equity investment, at $5/share, is
expected to close in early 2024 subject to the signing of a final binding
agreement following completion of a consultation with the Cellectis employee
representative bodies and customary closing conditions including Cellectis
shareholders' approval and regulatory clearances. Post-closing of this second
investment, AstraZeneca will hold a total equity stake of c. 44% in Cellectis.
AstraZeneca expects to treat its investment in Cellectis as an associate.

 

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

 

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

Notes

 

Alexion

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, is the group within AstraZeneca focused on
rare diseases, created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. As a leader in rare diseases for nearly 30 years,
Alexion is focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases
and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and
commercialisation of life-changing medicines. Alexion focuses its research
efforts on novel molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its
development efforts on haematology, nephrology, neurology, metabolic
disorders, cardiology and ophthalmology. Headquartered in Boston,
Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and serves patients in
more than 50 countries.

 

AstraZeneca in oncology

AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide
cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and
all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines
to patients.

 

The Company's focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through
persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse
portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyse
changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience.

 

AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate
cancer as a cause of death.

 

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical
company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of
prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals,
including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory &
Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries
and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
Please visit astrazeneca.com (http://www.astrazeneca.com/)  and follow the
Company on social media @AstraZeneca
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Contacts

For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please click here
(https://www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations.html#Contacts) . For Media
contacts, click here (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/contacts.html)
.

 

Adrian Kemp

Company Secretary

AstraZeneca PLC

 

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