AstraZeneca completes Gracell Biotechnologies acquisition for $1.2bn

AstraZeneca announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies Inc , a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, furthering AstraZeneca’s cell therapy ambition.

The acquisition enriches AstraZeneca’s growing pipeline of cell therapies with GC012F, a novel, clinical-stage FasTCAR-enabled BCMA and CD19 dual-targeting autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. GC012F is a potential new treatment for multiple myeloma, as well as other haematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Gracell will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, with operations in China and the US.