AstraZeneca has completed its planned equity investment in Cellectis, a leader in clinical-stage biotechnology, as part of a broader research collaboration initiative. This strategic partnership, initially announced in November 2023, is set to capitalize on Cellectis’ expertise in gene editing technologies and its robust manufacturing capabilities. The collaboration aims to develop up to ten innovative cell and gene therapy products targeting critical areas such as oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.
In the final quarter of 2023, Cellectis received $105 million from AstraZeneca, comprising a $25 million upfront cash payment for the research collaboration and an $80 million equity investment. Following the approval of Cellectis shareholders and regulatory clearances, an additional equity investment of $140 million, priced at $5 per share, has also been concluded. With this second investment, AstraZeneca now holds approximately 44% equity in Cellectis.
Under the collaboration terms, Cellectis stands to gain further financial benefits, including an investigational new drug (IND) option fee and additional payments tied to development milestones, regulatory approvals, and sales achievements. These could total anywhere from $70 million to $220 million per product developed, along with tiered royalties.
AstraZeneca retains the option to exclusively license the therapies developed through this partnership globally, which can be activated before the IND filing.
For more details on this partnership and its implications for the future of gene therapy, interested parties can visit AstraZeneca’s official website.
This content has been adapted from the original press release published on AstraZeneca’s website titled “AstraZeneca completes equity investment agreement with Cellectis,” available here.
