Full Press Release Details
Patent Encompassing Broad Uses of Gene Editing Technologies Maintained
Patent 8,921,332 Refers to the Use of Chimeric Endonucleases, such as
Zinc Finger Nucleases, TAL-effector Nucleases, Mega-TALs and CRISPR-Cas9
to Perform Gene Insertion into Cell Genomes
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2017--Regulatory News:
Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS; Nasdaq: CLLS), a biopharmaceutical company
focused on developing immunotherapies based on gene edited CAR T-cells
(UCART), today announced that U.S. patent 8,921,332, which claims the
use of chimeric restriction endonucleases for directing chromosomal gene
editing in cells by homologous recombination (HR), initially issued on
Dec. 30, 2014, has been upheld by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) after a reexamination initiated in October 2015.
U.S. patent 8,921,332 claims a general method for modifying chromosomal
DNA sequences at a genomic site of interest within a cell by using a
chimeric restriction endonuclease such as zing finger nucleases,
TAL-effector nucleases, Mega-TALs and CRISPR/Cas9. This technique,
commonly referred to as gene targeting or targeted insertion, is now
frequently used to modify the genome within plants, animals and cell
The inventors of this patent are Dr. Andr Choulika, Cellectis' Chairman
and CEO, and Dr. Richard C. Mulligan, a Harvard Medical School
Professor. Institut Pasteur and Boston Children's Hospital, the owners
of the patent, have granted exclusive rights to Cellectis under this
patent. It belongs to a patent family that claims the basic uses of
chimeric restriction nucleases for gene editing in cells.
Following the patent's reexamination, the USPTO issued a Notice to Issue
Reexamination Certificate in which it is stated that all 55 claims of
the patent are maintained, asserting that: "The '632 patent,
Smith et al., the '150 patent, Kim et al. and the '261 patent
individually or in combination neither teach or suggest the method of
modifying a specific sequence in a chromosomal DNA of a cell in vitro by
contacting the cell with a chimeric restriction endonuclease and a
targeted DNA as recited in the present claims."
Cellectis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
immunotherapies based on gene edited CAR T-cells (UCART). The company's
mission is to develop a new generation of cancer therapies based on
engineered T-cells. Cellectis capitalizes on its 17 years of expertise
in genome engineering - based on its flagship TALEN products and
meganucleases and pioneering electroporation PulseAgile technology - to
create a new generation of immunotherapies. CAR technologies are
designed to target surface antigens expressed on cells. Using its
life-science-focused, pioneering genome-engineering technologies,
Cellectis' goal is to create innovative products in multiple fields and
with various target markets. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq market
(ticker: CLLS) and on the NYSE Alternext market (ticker: ALCLS). To find
out more about us, visit our website: www.cellectis.com
Talking about gene editing? We do it. TALEN is a registered trademark
owned by the Cellectis Group.
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.
Jennifer Moore, VP of Communications,
KCSA Strategic Communications, 212-896-1241
Harnest, VP of Corporate Strategy and Finance, 646-385-9008