Cellectis Plant Sciences And Two Blades Foundation Announce The Execution Of A Cross-License Agreement On TAL Effector Nuclease Technologies

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. & EVANSTON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

“The agreement also provides a unique foundation for the commercial development of healthier food products with the objective to expedite their availability to consumers.”

Cellectis (Paris:ALCLS):

Cellectis plant sciences, a Minnesota-based company focusing on developing healthier food products, and the Two Blades Foundation (2Blades) today announced the execution of a non-exclusive cross-license agreement relating to TAL nuclease technologies.

Pursuant to the agreement, 2Blades receives a license to TALEN™ technology for not-for-profit uses, including use in 2Blades’ humanitarian efforts to support subsistence farming, and for certain commercial applications related to the disease resistance programs of 2Blades. In addition, pursuant to the agreement, Cellectis plant sciences receives a license under 2Blades’ TAL Code technology related to nucleases for commercial uses in certain specified crop plants. Cellectis plant sciences has an option to expand its license to additional crops. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“2Blades is pleased to enter into a cross-licensing agreement with Cellectis plant sciences,” said Diana Horvath, 2Blades’ President. “It streamlines the use of this powerful gene-editing technology in agriculture, fitting well with 2Blades’ interest in seeing broad use of the technology for a wide range of commercial and subsistence applications that we believe will benefit farmers and consumers.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Two Blades Foundation to support its humanitarian effort to reduce the impact of plant diseases in developing countries,” commented Luc Mathis, Chief Executive Officer of Cellectis plant sciences. “The agreement also provides a unique foundation for the commercial development of healthier food products with the objective to expedite their availability to consumers.”

The TAL Code technology and TALEN™ technology are useful tools that target genes at precise sites and enable specific regulation of gene expression. The technology is based on novel DNA-binding proteins that can be designed to cleave at any selected region in any gene.

The TAL Code technology is covered by patents and patent applications based on the international application WO 2010/079430, which names as inventors Ulla Bonas, Jens Boch, Thomas Lahaye, and Sebastian Schornack of Martin-Luther University in Halle, Germany. The Two Blades Foundation holds exclusive, worldwide rights for commercial uses of the technology in plants and has undertaken a broad licensing program involving this technology.

The TALEN™ technology is covered by patents and patent applications based on the international application WO 2011/072246, which names as inventors Dan Voytas, Adam Bogdanove, Feng Zhang, Michelle Christian, Tomas Cermak, Clarice Lauer Schmidt, Erin Doyle and Li Wang of Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota, USA. Cellectis holds an exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Minnesota under this technology in all fields of use.

About 2Blades
The Two Blades Foundation (www.2blades.org) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing durable disease resistance in agricultural crops. The Foundation establishes and runs programs to support and implement solutions to significant unsolved crop disease problems, both in the developing world and in major agricultural markets. 2Blades oversees a number of development programs in collaboration with leading academic institutions around the world, as well as a significant portfolio of technologies, which it brings into practical use through partnering and licensing.

About Cellectis plant sciences
Founded in 2010, Cellectis plant sciences is based in New Brighton, Minnesota (United States). The company has developed a platform to improve the quality of crops for the food and agriculture industries. Cellectis plant sciences is involved in a network of collaborations that include global companies (Bayer, Limagrain, Monsanto, SESVanderhave among others), as well as leading healthcare (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma) and food companies. Cellectis plant sciences is developing innovative products with prominent partners with the aim of making its products accessible to consumers.
For further information please visit our website: www.cellectis-plantsciences.com

Disclaimer
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 unforeseeable risk and uncertainties that could cause the Company to fail to achieve the objectives expressed by the forward-looking statements.