Andre Choulika

About Andre Choulika

André Choulika, Ph.D., is one of the founders of Cellectis and the company’s most identifiable long-term executive leader. He has served as Chief Executive Officer since Cellectis was founded in 1999 and remains a Director of the company. He also served as Chairman of the Board from 2011 to November 2020, reflecting his central role in both strategy and governance. In addition, he served as President of Calyxt from 2010 to July 2020 before refocusing entirely on Cellectis. Dr. Choulika earned a Ph.D. in molecular virology from the University of Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie) and later completed a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Genetics. Earlier, from 1997 to 1999, he was a post-doctoral fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he contributed to the invention of nuclease-based genome editing technologies and became an early pioneer in the analysis and use of meganucleases to modify complex genomes. That scientific background has been the foundation of his career as both entrepreneur and biotech executive. At Cellectis, André Choulika helped build a global biotechnology platform focused on gene editing and allogeneic cell therapies. Under his leadership, the company established itself as a recognized player in allogeneic CAR-T development, combining advanced science, intellectual property strategy and clinical execution. In 2026, he described 2025 as a transformational year for Cellectis, citing the company’s transition into a late-stage allogeneic CAR-T organization, the launch of a pivotal Phase 2 trial for lasme-cel, and the strengthening of its strategic partnership with AstraZeneca. His career is marked by a rare blend of scientific credibility, long-term vision and public-company leadership. He is widely associated with Cellectis’ emergence as a European pioneer in genome editing for oncology, with a disciplined focus on clinical, industrial and strategic milestones.