Cellectis, the French biotech company, is in talks about its potential sale, with Pfizer of the US considered to be among the buyers.
Two people familiar with the situation said Cellectis was in negotiations over a deal, but warned no outcome was certain, report Bryce Elder, Arash Massoudi and Andrew Ward in London and David Crow in New York.
One person said Pfizer has approached the company about a deal that could value it at as much as €1.5bn.
The US drug company already owns 9.47 per cent of Cellectis after the pair forged a partnership to develop cancer drugs together.
It is unclear if other parties were also in the sale talks with Cellectis.
Pfizer declined to comment and Cellectis had no immediate comment.
An acquisition of Cellectis would strengthen Pfizer's push to become a serious player in a new category of cancer drugs called immuno-oncology.
The French company, which raised $228m in a Nasdaq initial public offering in March, specialises in a type of treatment known as Car-T therapy seen as one of the hottest areas of drug development.
Shares in Cellectis fell 3.3 per cent to €36.75 in Paris trading, giving the company a market value of €1.1bn.
The company's shares are up 200 per cent this year.
Additional reporting by James Fontanella-Khan and Anne-Sylvaine Chassany
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Cellectis Said to Be in Sale Talks, Pfizer Potential Buyer: FT
2015-05-28 19:31:51.526 GMT
By Lee Spears
(Bloomberg) -- Cellectis in talks about potential sale,
Pfizer has approached about deal valuing it at as much as
EUR1.5b, FT says, citing people familiar.
* Cellectis in negotiations over a deal, outcome uncertain
* PFE already owns 9.47% of Cellectis: FT
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To contact the reporter on this story:
Lee Spears in New York at +1-212-617-5806 or
lspears3@bloomberg.net
Will Daley
2015-05-28 19:31:51.526 GMT
By Lee Spears
(Bloomberg) -- Cellectis in talks about potential sale,
Pfizer has approached about deal valuing it at as much as
EUR1.5b, FT says, citing people familiar.
* Cellectis in negotiations over a deal, outcome uncertain
* PFE already owns 9.47% of Cellectis: FT
For Related News and Information:
First Word scrolling panel: FIRST<GO>
First Word newswire: NH BFW<GO>
To contact the reporter on this story:
Lee Spears in New York at +1-212-617-5806 or
lspears3@bloomberg.net
Will Daley