TxCell

About TxCell

TxCell SA, established in 2001 as a spin-off from Inserm, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, positioned itself as a biotechnology firm focused on developing cell-based immunotherapies for severe chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The company's headquarters were located in Valbonne, France, within the Sophia Antipolis technology park. The core of TxCell's research revolved around T-regulatory (Treg) cells, a type of T-cell that helps regulate the immune system. Their primary platform, ASTrIA, utilized these Treg cells to create personalized treatments for conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The therapeutic approach involved isolating Treg cells from a patient's blood, engineering them to target specific inflammatory agents, and then reinfusing them into the same patient. This process aimed to directly address the source of inflammation. TxCell's business model centered on the research, development, and eventual commercialization of these novel therapies. Revenue generation was anticipated through partnerships, licensing agreements, and the eventual sale of approved treatments. Their target market was the global pharmaceutical and healthcare sector, specifically focusing on patients suffering from debilitating autoimmune disorders with high unmet medical needs. The company also explored a second technology platform, ENTrIA, which used genetically engineered Treg cells (CAR-Treg) for applications in solid organ transplantation.

TxCell achieved several significant milestones, including its listing on the Euronext Paris regulated market in 2014, which raised €22 million. In 2018, the company initiated a strategic transaction with Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., a US-based biotechnology company. This transaction led to Sangamo acquiring a majority stake in TxCell, and by 2019, Sangamo had fully acquired the company, delisting it from the stock exchange. TxCell was subsequently renamed Sangamo Therapeutics SA and now operates as the French subsidiary of the American parent company, continuing its work on cell therapy for immunological diseases under the Sangamo umbrella.