Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), Finances iPS Cell Bank
Establishing an iPS cell bank by 2015 and creating a EU leader in iPS cells
Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), the genome engineering specialist, subsidiary Ectycell has signed an agreement with the Caisse des Dépôts (a French financial institution) for a planned capital investment of €12M, in 2 steps. This agreement should start no later than 1/31/12, and is subject to the achievement of certain technical conditions.
The Bottom Line: Created in 8/09, Ectycell is dedicated to development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Ectycell is a sub-licensee of Cellectis for various intellectual property usage rights, including those relating to iPS cell technology, under license from iPS Academia Japan. The iPS cell programs that have been launched should lead to the establishment of a world-leading industrial iPS cell bank in terms of volume and diversity by 2015. The agreement with Caisse des Dépôts is part of an ambitious program launched by Ectycell and dedicated to the development, industrial production and marketing of iPS cells. This program will be run with the support of Oseo, a French public structure that provides financial support for innovative French companies. This agreement with Caisse des Dépôts strengthens Cellectis commitment in the stem cell domain, following on from the collaborative StemRed project, conducted in partnership with Etablissement Français du Sang (French Blood Agency), with the purpose of producing red blood cells from iPS cells.
