Cellectis Presents Epigenetic Editing Platform to Turn Genes Off Without Altering DNA at the ASGCT Annual Meeting
Rhea-AI Summary
Cellectis (NASDAQ: CLLS) will present research on a TALE-based epigenetic editing platform at the ASGCT Annual Meeting (May 11–15, 2026) in Boston.
Poster title: TALE-based epigenetic modulators show sustained knock-down of target genes in T-cells and HEPG2. The approach achieved >90% reduction in gene activity for two targets; poster available May 13, 2026 at 5 PM ET.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – CLLS
On the day this news was published, CLLS declined 0.25%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -5.2% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 5 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $745K from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $297.32M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Within Biotechnology peers, several names such as ENGN (-9.64%) and GLUE (-4.55%) were down while FDMT rose 1.94%. CLLS’ modest -0.51% move shows no clear sector-wide pattern linked to this ASGCT research update.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 | Clinical trial update | Positive | -2.8% | Interim futility analysis from ALPHA3 cema-cel trial showing strong MRD benefit. |
| Apr 07 | Capital/voting report | Neutral | +5.7% | Monthly disclosure of total shares and voting rights outstanding as of Mar 31. |
| Mar 19 | Earnings and update | Positive | -4.0% | Full year 2025 results with strong ORR data and cash runway into H2 2027. |
| Mar 12 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +2.7% | Announcement of timing and call details for Q4 and full-year 2025 results. |
| Mar 04 | Capital/voting report | Neutral | -2.4% | Monthly share capital and voting rights report as of Feb 28, 2026. |
Recent history shows multiple clinically or strategically positive updates followed by negative price reactions, suggesting a tendency for the stock to sell off or underreact to good news.
Over the past months, Cellectis has reported pivotal trial progress, routine capital/voting rights updates, and full-year 2025 results. Notably, strong interim data from Allogene’s ALPHA3 trial and detailed 2025 financials with clinical advances both saw negative next-day reactions (-2.8% and -4.02%). In contrast, routine share-capital disclosures occasionally aligned with modest gains. Today’s ASGCT epigenetic-editing presentation fits the pattern of scientific platform expansion rather than a discrete, near-term financial catalyst.
Regulatory & Risk Context
Cellectis has an effective Form F-3 shelf registration dated 2025-07-02, expiring on 2028-07-02. The filing is currently effective with 0 recorded usages in the provided context, and no specific capacity amounts disclosed here.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Cellectis’ TALE-based epigenetic editing platform, achieving >90% sustained knock-down of target genes without inducing DNA breaks. It reinforces the company’s broader gene-editing toolbox alongside ongoing CAR-T programs detailed in recent filings. Investors may track how this platform feeds into partnered or in-house pipelines, the use of the existing F-3 shelf registration, and upcoming clinical milestones and financial disclosures as key future data points.
Key Terms
epigenetic editing medical
tale-based epigenetic modulators medical
transcription activator-like effector medical
t-cells medical
hepatocytes medical
cancer immunotherapy medical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
NEW YORK, April 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellectis (the “Company”) (Euronext Growth: ALCLS - NASDAQ: CLLS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies, today presents new research on a TALE-based epigenetic editing approach, that does not cut or permanently modify the DNA sequence, making it a potentially safer alternative for genome editing, at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) annual meeting, that will be held on May 11-15, in Boston (MA).
The data will be presented in a poster:
Title: TALE-based epigenetic modulators show sustained knock-down of target genes in T-cells and HEPG2 via a high-throughput multiplex screening platform
Transcription activator-like effector-based epigenetic modulators (TALEM) are engineered fusion proteins consisting of a TALE DNA-binding domain with functional domains that mediate epigenetic modifications. These proteins can be precisely guided to a target location in the genome to switch genes on or off through a process known as epigenetic editing.
Unlike traditional gene editing tools, this approach does not induce DNA breaks and DNA sequence modifications, making it a potentially safer alternative for genome editing.
In this work, Cellectis developed a high-throughput screening system capable of rapidly assembling and testing hundreds of these TALEM, identifying which combinations are most effective at regulating a given gene.
The results:
This strategy was used for two distinct genes: one highly expressed in hepatocytes (active in liver cells) and another implicated in T-cell dysfunction and exhaustion, a key challenge in cancer immunotherapy. In both cases, the approach achieved >
“We are excited to present these results at ASGCT, which demonstrate Cellectis’ ability to apply its gene editing platform into the emerging field of epigenetic editing” said Louisa Mayer, Ph.D., Scientist II and Supervisor - Innovation & Gene Editing at Cellectis. “This work shows our ability to design and identify highly potent epigenetic editors across different cell types, thereby enriching our gene‑editing toolbox.”
The abstract is published on the ASGCT website. The poster will be available on Cellectis’ website on the presentation day, Wednesday May 13, 2026 at 5 pm ET.
About Cellectis
Cellectis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies. The company utilizes an allogeneic approach for CAR T immunotherapies in oncology, pioneering the concept of off-the-shelf and ready-to-use gene-edited CAR T-cells to treat cancer patients, and a platform to develop gene therapies in other therapeutic indications. With its in-house manufacturing capabilities, Cellectis is one of the few end-to-end gene editing companies that controls the cell and gene therapy value chain from start to finish.
Cellectis’ headquarters are in Paris, France, with locations in New York and Raleigh, NC. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (ticker: CLLS) and on Euronext Growth (ticker: ALCLS). To find out more, visit www.cellectis.com and follow Cellectis on LinkedIn and X.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “can,” or “potentially,” or the negative of these and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include statements about the potential of our innovation programs. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as amended and in our annual financial report (including the management report) for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent filings Cellectis makes with the Securities Exchange Commission from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as well as other known and unknown risks and uncertainties may adversely affect such forward-looking statements and cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
For further information on Cellectis, please contact:
Media contacts:
Pascalyne Wilson, Director, Communications, + 33 (0)7 76 99 14 33, media@cellectis.com
Patricia Sosa Navarro, Chief of Staff to the CEO, +33 (0)7 76 77 46 93
Investor Relations contact:
Arthur Stril, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Business Officer, investors@cellectis.com
Attachment
