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Pfizer Picks 'Off-The-Shelf' CAR-T And Backs TALEN Over CRISPR

 
• By Sukaina Virji

"Not as good as TALEN," was Cellectis's verdict on CRISPR gene editing, and it appears Pfizer concurs. The big pharma has licensed Cellectis's lead TALEN (not CRISPR) gene-edited CAR-T product candidate UCART19. Servier held an option on the rights, but exercised it early and handed it straight over to Pfizer.

"Not as good as TALEN," was Cellectis's verdict on CRISPR gene editing, and it appears Pfizer concurs. The big pharma has licensed Cellectis's lead TALEN (not CRISPR) gene-edited CAR-T product candidate UCART19. Servier held an option on the rights, but exercised it early and handed it straight over to Pfizer.

UCART19 is different from regular CAR-T therapies in another way. Unlike the autologous CAR-T approaches of other companies such as...

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