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AstraZeneca, Cellectis targeted in patent lawsuit over gene-editing technology

ReutersSep 26, 2025 6:31 PM

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By Blake Brittain

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Biotech company Factor Bioscience sued rival Cellectis ALCLS.PA and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca AZN.L in Delaware federal court on Friday for allegedly infringing three patents related to gene-editing technology used in cancer treatments.

Factor said in the complaint that Cellectis copied its technology for designing gene-edited cells for cancer therapies. Cellectis licenses its gene-editing technology to AstraZeneca for research and development.

Spokespeople for Cellectis and AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"If large multinational pharmaceutical companies are allowed to illegally exploit the research and innovation of companies like Factor, it will have a chilling effect on future innovations and ultimately delay the development of new therapies," Factor CEO Matt Angel said in a statement.

The lawsuit said that Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Factor developed novel techniques for using messenger RNA and proteins, called TALENs, to produce cells to fight cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Factor alleged that France-based Cellectis copied its mRNA TALEN technology to develop its own leukemia and lymphoma treatments.

United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca agreed in 2023 to license Cellectis' gene-editing technology to help develop therapeutics in fields including oncology, immunology and rare diseases. Factor's lawsuit accused AstraZeneca of violating its patent rights by using Cellectis' technology.

Factor requested an unspecified amount of monetary damages for the alleged infringement.

"Since the discovery of the structure of DNA, there has been interest in developing methods to reprogram cells by editing their genetic code to treat disease and improve health," Factor said in the lawsuit. "There are billions of dollars at stake in being the first company to develop such breakthrough treatments."

The case is Factor Bioscience Inc v. Cellectis Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:25-cv-01197.

For Factor: Robert Cerwinski, Michael Johnson and Lora Green of Gemini Law; Huiya Wu and Linnea Cipriano of Goodwin Procter

For Cellectis and AstraZeneca: attorney information not yet available

AstraZeneca to invest $245 mln in Cellectis to boost gene therapy prospects

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