Why is CLLS Stock Up Today?
Company Description
Cellectis S.A. (CLLS) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on gene editing for cell and gene therapies. According to its public disclosures, Cellectis uses a proprietary gene-editing platform to develop product candidates in oncology and other therapeutic areas, with a particular emphasis on allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker CLLS and on Euronext Growth under the ticker ALCLS.
Cellectis states that it utilizes an allogeneic approach for CAR T immunotherapies in oncology. This approach aims to create off-the-shelf, ready-to-use gene-edited CAR T-cells for cancer patients, rather than relying on patient-specific (autologous) cell products. Beyond oncology, Cellectis also describes a platform to develop gene therapies in other therapeutic indications, supported by its gene-editing technologies.
The company reports that it is one of the few end-to-end gene editing organizations that controls the cell and gene therapy value chain from start to finish, supported by in-house manufacturing capabilities. Cellectis’ headquarters are in Paris, France, with additional locations in New York and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Core Programs and Pipeline Focus
Cellectis describes itself as a late-stage development allogeneic CAR-T company. Its disclosed pipeline includes:
- Lasme-cel (UCART22) for relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL), evaluated in the BALLI-01 clinical trial. The company has reported Phase 1 data in transplant-ineligible, heavily pretreated patients and has initiated a pivotal Phase 2 BALLI-01 trial in r/r B-ALL.
- Eti-cel (UCART20x22), an allogeneic dual CAR-T candidate targeting CD20 and CD22, being developed in the NATHALI-01 Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL) after multiple prior lines of therapy.
- Gene-edited hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) for other therapeutic indications, supported by non-viral gene-editing processes described by the company.
In its public communications, Cellectis has highlighted clinical data from BALLI-01 and NATHALI-01, including overall response rates, complete response rates, and safety observations for lasme-cel and eti-cel in heavily pretreated patient populations. These data are used by the company to support the continued development of its allogeneic CAR-T programs.
Gene-Editing Platform and Technology
Cellectis reports that its platform is based on pioneering gene-editing technologies applied to both T cells and HSPCs. The company has described the use of:
- Allogeneic CAR-T engineering to generate off-the-shelf CAR-T cells for oncology indications.
- Non-viral gene insertion using circular single-stranded DNA (CssDNA) donor templates in HSPCs, which the company states can enable precise and efficient integration of large genetic sequences in therapeutically relevant cell subpopulations.
- TALE base editors (TALEB), which Cellectis has studied for off-target effects in the nuclear genome of primary T cells, as part of its broader genome-editing toolbox for therapeutic cell engineering.
According to a Nature Communications article referenced by Cellectis, CssDNA templates achieved higher knock-in efficiency than certain linear single-stranded DNA templates in HSPCs and showed favorable engraftment characteristics in preclinical models compared with AAV6-edited HSPCs. The company presents these findings as a step toward next-generation non-viral gene therapies.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Cellectis has disclosed several significant collaborations that rely on its gene-editing and manufacturing capabilities:
- AstraZeneca: A Joint Research and Collaboration Agreement under which AstraZeneca and Cellectis work to develop up to 10 novel cell and gene therapy products in areas of high unmet medical need, including oncology, immunology and rare genetic disorders. The collaboration is described as leveraging Cellectis’ gene-editing expertise and in-house manufacturing.
- Servier / Allogene: Under a License, Development and Commercialization Agreement with Servier, Cellectis granted rights related to certain CD19 and CD70 programs. Servier’s sublicensee Allogene has reported progress in trials such as the pivotal Phase 2 ALPHA3 trial with cema-cel in large B-cell lymphoma and the TRAVERSE trial with ALLO-316 in renal cell carcinoma. Cellectis has stated that it is eligible for development and sales milestones and royalties under this agreement and has also reported an arbitral decision concerning partial termination of the license for UCART19 V1 (also referred to as ALLO-501 by Allogene).
- Iovance: Cellectis has referenced Iovance’s IOV-4001, a PD-1 inactivated tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy, as part of its broader ecosystem of cell and gene therapy collaborations.
These partnerships illustrate how Cellectis’ gene-editing platform is applied both to its internal pipeline and to programs developed with or by partners.
Regulatory Filings and Public Company Status
Cellectis files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a foreign private issuer, using Form 20-F as its annual report format and furnishing current information on Form 6-K. Recent Form 6-K filings have included press releases, interim financial reports, and R&D presentations. The company’s shares trade on the Nasdaq Global Market and on Euronext Growth, and it also publishes monthly information on share capital and voting rights in accordance with French market regulations.
Business Model and Sector Context
Within the broader category of biological product manufacturing, Cellectis positions itself around gene-edited cell therapies. Its business model, as described in its public communications, combines:
- Internal development of allogeneic CAR-T and gene-edited HSPC product candidates.
- Collaborative research and licensing arrangements with larger biopharmaceutical companies.
- Use of in-house manufacturing to support clinical development and potentially future commercialization of cell and gene therapies.
While the company remains in the clinical stage, its disclosures emphasize the potential of its product candidates in oncology indications such as r/r B-ALL and r/r NHL, as well as the broader applicability of its gene-editing technologies to additional therapeutic areas.
Geographic Footprint
Cellectis reports that its corporate headquarters are located in Paris, France. It also maintains locations in New York and Raleigh, North Carolina. This transatlantic footprint supports its activities in European and U.S. clinical development, manufacturing, and regulatory engagement.
Use Cases for Investors and Observers
For investors, analysts, and others researching CLLS stock, Cellectis represents an example of a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on gene editing and allogeneic CAR-T therapies. Its public disclosures provide insight into:
- Clinical progress and safety/efficacy data for lasme-cel and eti-cel.
- Advances in non-viral gene-editing technologies for HSPCs and T cells.
- Collaborations with established pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.
- Regulatory interactions and trial designs for pivotal and early-stage studies.
According to the company, it believes that its cash, cash equivalents, and fixed-term deposits provide a runway to support continued development of its pipeline and operation of its manufacturing capabilities over a multi-year period, as disclosed in its financial updates. All such statements are subject to the forward-looking statement caveats noted in its press releases and SEC filings.
Stock Performance
Cellectis (CLLS) stock last traded at $3.35, down 3.74% from the previous close. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 163.0%. At a market capitalization of $350.1M, CLLS is classified as a small-cap stock with approximately 72.3M shares outstanding.
Latest News
Cellectis has 10 recent news articles, with the latest published yesterday. Of the recent coverage, 3 articles coincided with positive price movement and 7 with negative movement. Key topics include earnings, earnings date. View all CLLS news →
SEC Filings
Cellectis has filed 5 recent SEC filings, including 4 Form 6-K, 1 Form 20-F. The most recent filing was submitted on March 19, 2026. SEC filings provide transparency into a company's financial condition, material events, and regulatory compliance. View all CLLS SEC filings →
Financial Highlights
Cellectis generated $755K in revenue over the trailing twelve months, and net income was -$108.4M, reflecting a -14363.3% net profit margin. The company generated -$24.7M in operating cash flow. With a current ratio of 1.73, the balance sheet reflects a strong liquidity position.
Upcoming Events
Investor conference call & webcast
BALLI-01 interim analysis
NATHALI-01 dataset presentation
lasme-cel pivotal interim readout
BLA submission target
Cellectis has 5 upcoming scheduled events. The next event, "Investor conference call & webcast", is scheduled for March 20, 2026 (today). Investors can track these dates to stay informed about potential catalysts that may affect the CLLS stock price.
Short Interest History
Short interest in Cellectis (CLLS) currently stands at 396.1 thousand shares, down 5.5% from the previous reporting period, representing 0.5% of the float. Over the past 12 months, short interest has decreased by 13.1%. This relatively low short interest suggests limited bearish sentiment. With 11.2 days to cover, it would take significant time for short sellers to close their positions based on average trading volume.
Days to Cover History
Days to cover for Cellectis (CLLS) currently stands at 11.2 days, up 42.2% from the previous period. This elevated days-to-cover ratio indicates it would take over two weeks of average trading volume for short sellers to exit their positions, suggesting potential for a short squeeze if positive news emerges. The days to cover has increased 341.9% over the past year, indicating either rising short interest or declining trading volume. The ratio has shown significant volatility over the period, ranging from 1.0 to 11.2 days.
CLLS Company Profile & Sector Positioning
Cellectis (CLLS) operates in the Biotechnology industry within the broader Healthcare sector and is listed on the NASDAQ.
Investors comparing CLLS often look at related companies in the same sector, including enGene Holdings Inc. (ENGN), 4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc. (FDMT), Korro Bio, Inc. (KRRO), Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. (GLUE), and Abeona Therapeut (ABEO). Comparing financial metrics, valuation ratios, and stock performance across these peers can help investors evaluate CLLS's relative position within its industry.
Cellectis (NASDAQ:CLLS), a biotechnology company, reported full-year 2025 results onMar 19 and said cash and equivalents were $211M , with runway into H2 2027, the company reported. It also cited clinical progress: lasme-cel had 100% ORR in the target Phase 2 population and eti-cel had 88% ORR and 63% CR.