CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Cellectis bioresearch, a subsidiary of Cellectis Group (Alternext: ALCLS), the genome engineering specialist, announced today a collaboration agreement with Stemgent, Inc. to provide research services that combines mRNA reprogramming technology and genome engineering.
The partnership marries Cellectis bioresearch’s leadership in genome engineering with Stemgent’s expertise in cellular reprogramming. Stemgent’s proprietary mRNA reprogramming technology addresses the challenges around deriving non-viral, non-integrating, clinically-relevant induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for use in regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and basic research. Traditional reprogramming methods can lead to the integration of unwanted genetic material into the host genome and therefore can be disruptive to the reprogrammed cell’s function.
Targeted genome engineering is a powerful technology that can be used to elucidate the genetic basis of diseases and to evaluate drug candidates through the generation of cell-based assays. Cellectis bioresearch’s TALEN™-based genome engineering technology enables the directed introduction of disease-specific genetic mutations to mimic disease and of reporter genes with fluorescent/luminescent tags to evaluate drug candidate efficacy, specificity and toxicity. Together these two powerful technologies pave the way for clinically-relevant applications in regenerative medicine.
Cellectis Group CEO André Choulika said, “The collaboration between Stemgent and Cellectis fits with our mission to enable scientists worldwide with the tools to generate genome-engineered iPS cells for use in their research and regenerative medicine.”
“Drug toxicity testing is an important part of early-stage drug development, continued Ian Ratcliffe, Stemgent President and CEO. “The challenge researchers face is that current models to test drugs are often inadequate. With this partnership and the combined technologies, we can introduce mutations into reprogrammed cells and differentiate them into downstream lineages. Researchers can utilize these cells to test how mutations, known and unknown, alter the biology of the cells upon exposure to drugs.”
About Cellectis
Founded in France in 1999, the Cellectis Group is based on a highly specific DNA engineering technology. Its application sectors are human health, agriculture and bio-energies. Co-created by André Choulika, its Chief Executive Officer, Cellectis is today one of the world leading companies in the field of genome engineering. Cellectis is also focused on pluripotent stem cells and technology for drug discovery research, toxicity testing and regenerative medicine. Cellectis leverages a deep experience in stem cell handling, scale-up and differentiation into mature and functional human cells. The Group has a workforce of 230 employees working on 5 sites worldwide: Paris & Evry in France, Gothenburg in Sweden, St Paul (Minnesota) & Cambridge (Massachusetts) in the United States. Cellectis achieved in 2011 €16M revenues and has signed more than 80 industrial agreements with pharmaceutical laboratories, agrochemical and biotechnology companies since its inception. AFM, Dupont, BASF, Bayer, Total, Limagrain, Novo Nordisk… are some of the Group’s clients and partners. Since 2007, Cellectis has been listed on NYSE-Euronext Alternext market (code: ALCLS) in Paris.
For more information, visit our website: www.cellectis.com.
About Stemgent
Stemgent, Inc. is engaged in working alongside some of the world’s leading stem cell scientists in developing innovative technology and application solutions for the advancement of stem cell research. Stemgent’s mission is to help simplify and support cellular reprogramming by producing research tools being designed by leading stem cell researchers worldwide. Stemgent's product offering includes: reprogramming systems, media, small molecules, antibodies, customized services, and training programs. In 2012, the company merged with Asterand which provides well characterized human tissue specimens through its XpressBank™ biorepository and its PhaseZERO™ human-tissue custom services platform.
For more information, visit www.stemgent.com and www.asterand.com.
Disclaimer
This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe, for shares in Cellectis in any country. This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Company’s objectives based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management only and involve risk and uncertainties that could cause the Company to fail to achieve the objectives expressed by the forward-looking statements above.