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Cellectis
André Choulika's Cellectis pioneered allogeneic CAR-T therapies using TALEN gene editing, advancing off-the-shelf cancer treatments from Paris.
Cellectis
Cellectis was founded in 1999 by André Choulika, a molecular biologist who was among the first to demonstrate that meganucleases could be engineered for genome editing. Headquartered in Paris, the company shifted its focus to TALEN-based gene editing after Choulika recognized TAL effector proteins as engineerable DNA-binding domains. The firm went public on Euronext Paris in 2007 and completed a U.S. IPO on Nasdaq in 2015, making it one of the few European biotechs with a dual listing. The company builds allogeneic, or universal, CAR-T cell therapies that can be administered to any patient without requiring a personalized manufacturing run. Its core platform uses TALEN gene editing to inactivate the T-cell receptor and other targets that cause graft-versus-host disease. Cellectis licenses TALEN technology broadly — Allogene Therapeutics and Servier are partnered clinical developers. Confirmed clinical-stage programs include UCART19, discontinued after the death of a patient in a Phase 1 trial led by Servier in 2020, and UCART22, which targets CD22 in relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The firm operates manufacturing and R&D sites in Paris, New York, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Cellectis employs approximately 250 full-time staff across three locations, with Choulika remaining CEO and controlling significant board influence through his continued involvement. In March 2023, the company announced a restructuring plan that reduced U.S. headcount and refocused resources on its lead clinical assets UCART22, UCART123, and UCART20x22. The move followed a November 2022 FDA clinical hold on a Phase 1 trial for AML asset UCART123 after safety concerns, which was lifted in February 2023 (per the firm, February 2023). The firm ended 2022 with approximately $95 million in cash and cash equivalents, funding operations into early 2024. Cellectis is one of a handful of companies that owns foundational intellectual property around targeted gene editing rather than merely licensing it in. The firm's TALEN patent estate and its early work on meganucleases predate the CRISPR patent war, giving it a licensing revenue stream and a defensive portfolio. Its fully owned, off-the-shelf manufacturing model also differs structurally from the dominant autologous CAR-T approach used by Novartis, Gilead, and Bristol Myers Squibb, making it a bet on scalable cell therapy economics rather than individualized treatment logistics.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1999
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
France
City
Paris
Corporate office
8 rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France
Additional offices
New York, NY, United States · Raleigh, NC, United States
Principals
André Choulika
CEO
David J.D. Sourdive
Executive Vice President, CMC & Manufacturing
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What gene-editing technology does Cellectis use and own?
Cellectis owns foundational intellectual property on TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases), engineered proteins that cut DNA at precise locations. The firm was an early mover in TALEN IP before the CRISPR patent landscape developed, and it licenses its TALEN platform to third parties including Allogene Therapeutics. Cellectis also holds historic patents on meganucleases dating to its 1999 founding by André Choulika.
How are allogeneic CAR-T therapies different from autologous ones?
Allogeneic CAR-T therapies are manufactured from healthy donor cells and can be administered off-the-shelf to multiple patients, unlike autologous therapies which require extracting, engineering, and reinfusing a patient's own T-cells. Cellectis uses TALEN editing to inactivate the T-cell receptor on donor cells, eliminating the risk of graft-versus-host disease. This model aims for lower per-patient manufacturing costs and faster treatment timelines compared to personalized CAR-T products from Novartis or Gilead.
Which companies are partnered with Cellectis for clinical development?
Servier, a French pharmaceutical group, partnered with Cellectis on UCART19 and other early-stage assets. Allogene Therapeutics holds exclusive U.S. rights to several Cellectis allogeneic CAR-T programs under a 2018 agreement, though that relationship has since narrowed. Cellectis retains full ownership of its lead independent programs UCART22 and UCART123.
What happened with Cellectis's UCART19 program?
UCART19 was Cellectis's most advanced clinical program, developed in partnership with Servier. A Phase 1 trial was paused after a patient death in 2020, and the program was eventually discontinued by Servier. The incident highlighted the safety risks of allogeneic CAR-T, particularly cytokine release syndrome and infection in heavily pretreated patient populations, and prompted Cellectis to refocus on its fully owned programs.
How is Cellectis funded and what is its cash position?
Cellectis is publicly traded on both Euronext Paris and Nasdaq, relying on equity markets rather than partnership revenue for operating capital. As of December 31, 2022, the firm reported approximately $95 million in cash and cash equivalents, with a cash runway into early 2024. The company has historically raised capital through public offerings and convertible debt, most recently raising $40 million in a January 2022 registered direct offering (per SEC filings, 2022).
What is the relationship between Cellectis and Allogene Therapeutics?
Allogene Therapeutics was formed in 2018 with an exclusive U.S. license to Cellectis's TALEN-edited allogeneic CAR-T programs, backed by a $300 million investment from Gilead, Pfizer, and others. Cellectis retained European rights and a minority equity stake. Over time, Allogene has focused on its own internally developed programs, reducing its reliance on licensed Cellectis assets.
What is Cellectis's current clinical pipeline focus?
Following a March 2023 restructuring, Cellectis is concentrating on three wholly owned oncology programs. UCART22 targets CD22 in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. UCART123 targets CD123 in acute myeloid leukemia and has an FDA clinical hold (originally placed November 2022) now lifted. UCART20x22 is a dual-targeting CAR-T against CD20 and CD22 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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