Cellectis has entered into a joint research collaboration agreement and investment agreement with AstraZeneca, relating to an initial equity investment of $80 million, and a memorandum of understanding relating to an additional equity investment of $140 million. The agreement aims to accelerate the development of next generation therapeutics in areas of high unmet need, including oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.

AstraZeneca will leverage Cellectis’ gene editing technologies and manufacturing capabilities to design novel cell and gene therapy candidate products. As part of the collaboration agreement, 25 genetic targets have been exclusively reserved for AstraZeneca, from which up to 10 candidate products could be explored for development. AstraZeneca will have an option for a worldwide exclusive license on the candidates, to be exercised before IND filing.

Cellectis’ research costs under the collaboration will be funded by AstraZeneca and Cellectis will receive an upfront payment of $25 million. Cellectis is also eligible to receive an investigational new drug (IND) option fee and development, regulatory and sales-related milestones, ranging from $70 million up to $220 million, per each of the 10 candidate products, plus royalties.

André Choulika, CEO of Cellectis, said, “We believe AstraZeneca is the perfect match to Cellectis by providing world-class expertise in the development and the commercialization 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.”

Marc Dunoyer, chief strategy officer, AstraZeneca, and CEO, 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.”