Factor Bioscience Sues AstraZeneca and Cellectis Over Gene-Editing Patent Infringement
核心洞察
Factor Bioscience (搜索) filed a patent lawsuit against Cellectis and AstraZeneca in Delaware federal court, alleging infringement of three foundational gene-editing patents related to mRNA TALEN (搜索) technology.
The lawsuit claims Cellectis copied Factor's patented technology for designing gene-edited cells for cancer (搜索) therapies, particularly for treating leukemia (搜索) and lymphoma (搜索).
AstraZeneca is accused of violating patent rights through its 2023 licensing agreement with Cellectis for gene-editing technology development in oncology and other therapeutic areas.
Cambridge-based biotech company Factor Bioscience (搜索) has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against French gene-editing company Cellectis and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, alleging unauthorized use of foundational gene-editing technology in cancer (搜索) treatment development.
The complaint, filed in Delaware federal court on Friday, centers on three U.S. patents (Nos. 10,662,410, 10,829,738, and 10,982,229) covering Factor's proprietary mRNA TALEN (搜索) technology used to create gene-edited cells for cancer (搜索) therapies.
Patent Dispute Over mRNA TALEN Technology
Factor alleges that Cellectis "transformed its research program after learning about Factor's patented mRNA TALENs (搜索) technology in 2013 and proceeded to illegally exploit that technology." The lawsuit claims Cellectis copied Factor's novel techniques for using messenger RNA and proteins called TALENs to produce cells designed to fight cancers including leukemia (搜索) and lymphoma (搜索).
"This is a David v. Goliath story, with our mRNA TALENs (搜索) slingshot holding the key to the next generation of revolutionary cancer (搜索) treatments," said Dr. Matt Angel, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Factor Bioscience (搜索). "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."
AstraZeneca Partnership Under Scrutiny
The lawsuit extends to AstraZeneca through its 2023 licensing agreement with Cellectis for gene-editing technology development across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology and rare diseases. Factor accuses AstraZeneca of violating its patent rights by using Cellectis' allegedly infringing technology in this partnership.
The complaint states that Cellectis has conducted the alleged infringement "itself and through a series of partnerships, including with AstraZeneca."
Broader Implications for Gene-Editing Innovation
Factor emphasized the broader stakes in gene-editing technology development, noting in the lawsuit that "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." The company highlighted that "there are billions of dollars at stake in being the first company to develop such breakthrough treatments."
For the past 14 years, Factor and its licensees have worked toward developing breakthrough allogeneic cell therapies, including products for cancer (搜索) treatment. The company seeks unspecified monetary damages for the alleged patent infringement.
Factor remains committed to advancing innovative therapeutic products through its internal development programs and collaborations with licensees and strategic partners. The company was founded in 2011 and focuses on using its patented gene-editing platform to develop cell and gene therapies.
Neither Cellectis nor AstraZeneca immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.