AstraZeneca maintains an option for a global exclusive licence for the candidate products developed through the deal. Credit: Robert Way / Shutterstock.com.

AstraZeneca has concluded an equity investment in clinical-stage biotechnology company Cellectis.

The investment comes after the companies entered an equity investment and research partnership agreement in November 2023.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The companies will focus on developing up to ten new cell and gene therapy products for areas with high unmet medical needs, including immunology, oncology and rare diseases, using the gene editing technologies and manufacturing expertise of Cellectis.

Cellectis received an initial payment of $105m from AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter of 2023.

This consisted of $25m cash upfront as part of a research partnership deal and $80m in equity investment.

Following approval from Cellectis shareholders and regulatory clearances, an additional $140m equity investment has been finalised at $5 per share.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

AstraZeneca now has a total equity stake of 44% in Cellectis and anticipates continuing to account for its investment in Cellectis as an associate.

The research partnership deal entitles Cellectis to potential additional payments.

These include an investigational new drug (IND) option fee, milestone payments on meeting development, regulatory and sales-related goals between $70m to $220m for each of the ten candidate products, and tiered royalties.

AstraZeneca maintains an option for a global exclusive licence for the candidate products developed through the deal.

The option can be exercised before the filing of an IND, positioning AstraZeneca to expand its portfolio in the strategic areas of cell and gene therapy.

In April 2023, AstraZeneca reported profit after tax of $2.18bn for the first quarter of 2024, a notable rise from $1.80bn reported in the same period of the previous year.

Cell & Gene Therapy coverage on Pharmaceutical Technology is supported by Cytiva.

Editorial content is independently produced and follows the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Topic sponsors are not involved in the creation of editorial content.