Cellectis, Bayer CropScience strengthen genome engineering partnership

Cellectis plant sciences, the plant Genome engineering company and subsidiary of Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS), announced that it has signed a research and commercial agreement with Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG and a leader in crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology, to collaborate on the use of Meganucleases in plants. The aim of this agreement is to develop commercial products for the agricultural seed markets using new breeding techniques such as gene stacking and targeted mutagenesis, two approaches key to the development of agricultural products.

Cellectis and Bayer CropScience have collaborated since 2006 in the area of plant Genome engineering under a research and evaluation agreement to assess the value for commercial applications of the Meganuclease technology. Following the successful evaluation of the use of Meganucleases in plant cells, the companies have decided to extend the partnership into a framework research and commercial agreement. Under the terms of the new agreement, Cellectis plant sciences will provide Bayer CropScience with custom-designed Meganucleases for plant genomes, to introduce targeted modifications to selected genes and genomes.

"This new agreement enhances the relationship with Bayer CropScience, a leader in the field of Agbiotech. It will enable innovative and impactful products to key seed markets,” said André Choulika, Chairman and CEO of Cellectis Group. “The extension of our relationship provides validation for our technology platform and demonstrates our ability to deliver significant value to plants sciences.”

Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.