Servier Acquires Worldwide Rights to CAR-T Immunotherapy From Cellectis

Servier is exercising its option to acquire exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize a CAR-T immunotherapy from partner Cellectis.

UCART19 — which is about to enter Phase 1 development in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia — is a TALEN gene-edited allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy. Cellectis developed the transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) approach to engineer T-cells from donors for use in multiple patients.

Under an amended agreement, Servier gains an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize UCART 19. Servier will pay Cellectis $38.2 million upfront, along with potential milestone payments of more than $300 million.

In addition, Servier reached an agreement with Pfizer to co-develop and commercialize UCART19. The companies jointly will perform clinical studies and share development costs. Pfizer will be responsible for commercialization in the U.S., while Servier will retain marketing rights internationally.