|
 The so-called CAR T cell technology used by Cellectis involves
reprogramming immune system cells to hunt out cancer. The
"off-the-shelf" approach recently proved very successful in the case
of a baby whom doctors thought almost certain to die.
Cellectis said on Thursday that Servier had exercised an option to
acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to UCART19, which is about to
enter initial Phase I clinical tests, and Pfizer would work with
Servier on the drug's development.
Pfizer will have rights to sell the treatment in the United States,
with Servier responsible for marketing elsewhere. The tie-up is
separate from Pfizer’s collaboration with Cellectis announced in
2014, which did not include UCART19.
Cellectis will get $38.2 million upfront from Servier and is
eligible for over $300 million in milestone payments, research
financing and royalties on sales. Financial terms for the Servier
agreement with Pfizer were not disclosed.
UCART19 is being tested for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and acute
lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Cellectis is developing Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell, or CAR-T,
immunotherapies using engineered cells from a single donor for use
in multiple patients.
[to top of second column] |
This so-called allogeneic approach is in contrast to other
autologous technologies that rely on engineering a patient's own
T-cells and the aim is to make it possible to treat cancer using a
standardised off-the-shelf product. Such cells could be frozen and
shipped anywhere in the world, for almost immediate use.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Mark Potter)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
