Paris, January 20, 2011 – Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), the French genome engineering specialist, has announced today that it has signed an exclusive license agreement with the University of Minnesota that grants Cellectis the worldwide right to use inventions related to TAL effector-mediated DNA recognition and cleavage. This revolutionary approach for the targeted modification of genomes was developed by the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.
The exclusive license granted to Cellectis covers all uses of the technology in any field. The technology has shown promising results in genome engineering and is complementary to Cellectis’ proprietary meganuclease technology.
“Cellectis is making further progress in implementing its external growth policy by investing the capital raised in 2009 in the most promising technology, products and human resources that add value to, and are aligned with, our core business.” explained André Choulika, CEO of Cellectis. “Our teams are already leveraging this new technology and the first research reagents based on it are expected to come onto the market within twelve months”.
Financial details were not disclosed.
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
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
