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        Allogeneic CAR T therapy developer Allogene Therapeutics has announced the price for an underwritten offering of 37.9 million common shares at a rate of USD 2.90 per share. Mutual funds, large institutional investors, healthcare specialists, and certain members of Allogene's board and executive management team will also participate in the offering.
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        The offering, which is expected to close on or about May 16, 2024, is expected to raise USD 110 million in overall gross proceeds.&nbsp;
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        Allogene focuses on offering off-the-shelf CAR T therapies. It develops allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (AlloCAR T) products to treat cancers and autoimmune diseases. The company leverages multiplex gene-engineering and gene-editing technologies to offer off-the-shelf T-cell therapies designed to be more scalable and cost-effective than autologous counterparts.&nbsp;
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    <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/05/13/2880920/0/en/Allogene-Therapeutics-Announces-Pricing-of-110-million-Offering-of-Common-Stock.html">
      Press release
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Cell & Gene Therapy

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 <p>Allogene Therapeutics, a company that develops Allogeneic CAR T therapies, has set the price for an underwritten offer of 37.9 million common shares at USD 2.90 per share. Participants in the offering include mutual funds, large institutional investors, healthcare specialists, and some members of Allogene's board and executive management team.</p>
 <p>The offering is anticipated to close around May 16, 2024, and hopes to raise USD 110 million in gross proceeds.&nbsp;</p>
 <p>Allogene primarily provides off-the-shelf CAR T therapies. They create Allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (AlloCAR T) products to treat cancers and autoimmune diseases. They utilize multiplex gene-engineering and gene-editing technologies to create scalable and cost-effective off-the-shelf T-cell therapies, which are considered more resourceful than their autologous counterparts.&nbsp;</p>
 
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Allogene Therapeutics to raise USD 110 million in underwritten offering

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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 <p>Gene editing and CAR T-cell therapy company, Cellectis, has obtained an additional equity funding of USD 140 million (28 million shares at USD 5 per share) from AstraZeneca, adding to its existing collaboration begun in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23389"> November 2023 </a>. This new injection of funds gives AstraZeneca a 44% stake in Cellectis.</p>
 <p>The funds will bolster the the partnership efforts involving Cellectis' gene-editing technologies and the development of up to 10 new gene and cell therapy products, targeting areas with high unmet need, such as immunology, oncology, and rare diseases. Each scheme could earn Cellectis anywhere from USD 70 million to USD 220 million in option fees and milestone payments.</p>
 <p>AstraZeneca retains a worldwide exclusive license option for the candidate products developed under this agreement.</p>
 
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Cellectis secures additional equity investment of USD 140 million from AstraZeneca

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 <p>OverT Bio, a cancer-focused cell therapy company, has raised USD 16 million in seed funding. The financing round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing VC, and included investments from Fusion Fund, OMX Ventures, and Alexandria Venture Investments.</p>
 <p>The funds will be used to improve discovery platforms, with a particular emphasis on developing new cell therapies for advanced solid tumors.</p>
 <p>The company specializes in creating cellular therapies for treating solid tumors. It uses two platforms called OverTarget and OverTune to develop engineered immune cells that can be used in immunotherapy for cancer treatment. The techniques involve researching the full human genome to improve the life and efficiency of cell therapies in eliminating cancers.</p>
 
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OverT Bio emerges from stealth with USD 16 million in seed funding

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 <p>Latus Bio Inc., a gene therapy company, has raised USD 54 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by 8VC and DCVC Bio, and saw participation from the Samsung Life Science Fund and several other undisclosed investors. Samsung Life Science Fund is supported by Samsung Biologics Co., Samsung Bioepis Co., and Samsung C&amp;T Corp.</p>
 <p>The funding will be used by Latus Bio to accelerate the development of their gene therapies for CLN2 disease and Huntington’s disease. By 2025, the company aims to initiate human trials for the therapy designed for CLN2 disease.</p>
 <p>Based in Philadelphia, Latus Bio creates gene therapy solutions for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company uses advanced adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids to increase the accuracy and effectiveness of gene delivery, addressing common challenges associated with traditional gene therapies such as limited potency, off-target effects, and scalability issues. The company's platform involves a high-throughput screening process for millions of novel capsid variants, enabling them to identify those with the best tissue and cellular targeting capabilities, thus reducing potential immunogenicity and toxicity.</p>
 
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Latus Bio Inc. raises USD 54 million in Series A funding

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 <p>Poseida Therapeutics, a company specializing in CAR T-cell therapy and gene editing, has entered a partnership with Xyphos Biosciences, a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma. The partnership aims to create two allogeneic cell therapies for solid tumors. Poseida will receive an upfront payment of USD 50 million from Astellas, with the potential for an additional USD 550 million if certain milestones are met.</p>
 <p>The partnership will fusion Poseida's allogeneic CAR T platform with Xyphos' ACCEL technology, creating a CAR T construct. This collaboration will give rise to two "convertibleCAR" programs.</p>
 <p>This collaboration expands on a prior agreement from <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20759"> August 2023 </a>, wherein Astellas Pharma pledged to support Poseida’s development of cancer cell therapies.</p>
 
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Poseida Therapeutics receives USD 50 million investment from Astellas Pharma

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 <p>Janssen-Cilag International, a subsidiary of Johnson &amp; Johnson, has gained Type II variation approval from the European Commission for CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel or cilta-cel). This therapy is a one-time infusion for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients who have had at least one previous treatment.</p>
 <p>Cilta-cel is a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy that specifically targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein found frequently on myeloma cells. It is approved for use in eligible patients as soon as the first relapse occurs. According to the company, this therapy can reduce the chances of RRMM progression or death by as much as 74%.</p>
 <p>Since May 2022, the drug has been approved in the EU for patients who have undergone a minimum of three previous treatments. Earlier this month, the FDA also approved it for RRMM patients who have received at least one prior therapy.</p>
 
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Janssen’s cancer drug 'CARVYKTI' expands indication in the EU

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 <p>Gene therapy company GeneVentiv Therapeutics has been awarded a USD 2.5 million grant from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The funds were granted through the Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Information regarding the company's valuation and total investments has not been disclosed.</p>
 <p>The grant will be utilized for the research and development of gene therapy for hemophilia A or B. This will include large animal studies, assay development, biodistribution, and toxicology studies.</p>
 <p>GeneVentiv Therapeutics is primarily involved in the development of unique gene therapies for the treatment of hemophilia. Their lead candidate is GENV-HEM, a gene therapy which uses an adeno-associated virus (AAV). The therapy is designed to treat all forms of hemophilia, regardless of whether inhibitors are present. The goal of the treatment is to provide a potential lifetime solution for patients, achievable through a single infusion.</p>
 
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GeneVentiv Therapeutics secures USD 2.5 million SBIR grant to advance gene therapies

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 <p>Obsidian Therapeutics, a gene therapy company, has successfully raised USD 160.5 million in a heavily subscribed Series C funding round. The round was led by new investor Wellington Management and saw participation from other new investors like Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Novo Holdings A/S, and Woodline Partners LP. Existing investors such as Atlas Venture, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, Bristol Myers Squibb, Deep Track Capital, among others, also participated in the round.</p>
 <p>The collected funds will be channelled towards the clinical advancement of Obsidian’s primary investigational program, OBX-115. This program is designed to treat patients suffering from metastatic melanoma or non-small-cell lung cancer.&nbsp;</p>
 
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Obsidian Therapeutics raises USD 160.5 million in oversubscribed Series C funding for clinical development of lead candidate 'OBX-115'

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 <p>Modulus Therapeutics, a firm that uses artificial intelligence in cell therapy, has sold its cell therapy platform assets to a cell programming and biosecurity company, Ginkgo Bioworks. The specific financial details of the deal were not disclosed.</p>
 <p>Ginkgo plans to integrate Modulus' CAR and switch receptor designs and libraries into its own services. This incorporation will support Ginkgo's customers in developing and improving the performance of T-cell- and NK-cell-based CAR therapies.</p>
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All Updates

Allogene Therapeutics to raise USD 110 million in underwritten offering

Cellectis secures additional equity investment of USD 140 million from AstraZeneca

OverT Bio emerges from stealth with USD 16 million in seed funding

Latus Bio Inc. raises USD 54 million in Series A funding

Poseida Therapeutics receives USD 50 million investment from Astellas Pharma

Janssen’s cancer drug 'CARVYKTI' expands indication in the EU

GeneVentiv Therapeutics secures USD 2.5 million SBIR grant to advance gene therapies

Obsidian Therapeutics raises USD 160.5 million in oversubscribed Series C funding for clinical development of lead candidate 'OBX-115'

Modulus Therapeutics sells cell therapy platform to Ginkgo Bioworks for undisclosed amount

Nkarta to raise USD 240 million in underwritten offering to strengthen R&D efforts

Cell & Gene Therapy

Allogene Therapeutics to raise USD 110 million in underwritten offering

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