Saint Paul, Minnesota, October 19, 2010 – Cellectis plant sciences, the plant
genome engineering specialist and subsidiary of Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS),
announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with Midwest Oilseeds
Inc. for plant transformation technologies. The agreement provides Cellectis plant
sciences with the ability to utilize Midwest’s Aerosol Beam Injector (ABI)
technology for precise modification of plant genomes.
Cellectis is a leader in meganuclease-based genome engineering. Its technology
has many applications in plants, allowing for the insertion, deletion or modification
of gene sequences to create plants expressing new traits with added value (for
example: drought resistance, enhanced nutritional qualities, disease resistance). A
subsidiary dedicated to the plant applications, Cellectis plant sciences, was
established earlier this year in Saint Paul (Minnesota, USA), to enable the
technology’s full potential in plants and to deliver it to its partners.
The Aerosol Beam Injector (ABI) technology from Midwest Oilseeds allows
functional meganucleases to be delivered directly into plant cells, thus avoiding the
need for DNA vectors. This approach will allow Cellectis plant sciences to modify
plant genomes without integration of foreign DNA.
“Coupling the ABI system with our highly specific meganucleases should allow for
the creation of desired traits of interest,” said Daniel Voytas, PhD, Chief Scientific
Officer of Cellectis plant sciences. “The combination of technologies will enable
the development of new crop varieties through more controlled modifications.”
About Cellectis plant sciences
Established in March 2010, Cellectis plant sciences is a subsidiary of Cellectis dedicated to the
applications of meganucleases to plants. Its main mission is to increase and accelerate usage of
Cellectis’ proprietary technology in agricultural biology, broaden the company’s platform to attract
new and expanded licensing opportunities and explore the development of proprietary traits for
selected applications. Cellectis plant sciences is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Daniel
Voytas, PhD, is serving as Chief Scientific Officer of Cellectis plant sciences. Dr Voytas is also
Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Genome Engineering.
About Cellectis
Cellectis is a pioneer in the field of genome engineering. The company designs and markets
innovative tools -meganucleases. These molecular scissors enable targeted modifications to DNA,
with applications in the research, biomanufacturing, agrobiotechnology and therapeutic sectors.
To date, Cellectis has formed over 20 academic research partnerships and has established more
than 50 agreements with pharmaceutical laboratories, seed producers and biotech companies
across the world. The company holds exclusive rights to a portfolio of over 260 patents granted or
pending.
Since 2007, Cellectis has been listed on the NYSE-Euronext Alternext market (code: ALCLS) in
Paris and has secured over €70 million in funding since inception.
More information at www.cellectis.com
About Midwest Oilseeds Inc.
Midwest Oilseeds Inc. is focused on delivering the highest-yielding soybean germplasm in the seed
industry. As the soybean genetics supplier of first choice to the seed industry, Midwest Oilseeds
supplies a substantial portion of the soybean genetics planted in the United States today.
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. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and
assumptions of the Company’s management only and involve risk and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties
include, without limitation, whether the Company will be successful in implementing its strategies, whether there will be
continued growth in the relevant market and demand for the Company’s products, new products or technological
developments introduced by competitors, and risks associated with managing growth. Unfavorable developments in
connection with these and other risks and uncertainties described, in particular, in the Company’s prospectus prepared in
connection with its IPO and on which the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”) granted its visa no. 07-023 on
January 22, 2007, could cause the Company to fail to achieve the objectives expressed by the forward-looking statements
above.
For further information, please contact:
Cellectis
Sylvie Delassus
Senior VP Corporate Communication
+ 33 (0)1 41 83 99 00
media@cellectis.com
Alize RP
Caroline Carmagnol
+33 (0) 6 64 18 99 59
caroline@alizerp.com