Kite Pharma Appoints Rizwana F. Sproule, Ph.D., as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing engineered autologous T cell therapy (eACT™) products for cancer, today announced the appointment of Rizwana F. Sproule, Ph.D., to the newly created position of Vice President, Regulatory Affairs.  Dr. Sproule has over 16 years of experience in regulatory affairs for both biologics and small molecule therapeutics across multiple therapeutic areas.  Her appointment is effective immediately.

Arie Belldegrun, M.D., Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Kite Pharma, commented, "Rizwana offers an impressive track record in guiding the regulatory process for well-recognized best-in-class therapies, and her expertise in working with international agencies – FDA, EMA/CHMP, Health Canada, and PMDA – at multiple levels will be critical to Kite's further advancement and planning.  We are excited about the increasing momentum at Kite and are delighted to welcome Rizwana to our growing leadership team."

Prior to joining Kite, Dr. Sproule held senior positions at Amgen, including Executive Director, Therapeutic Area Head for Oncology Global Regulatory Affairs.  In this position Dr. Sproule had global oversight of a diverse range of oncology therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, oncolytic viruses, bispecific single chain T-cell engager antibodies and small molecule agents.  While at Amgen, she also served as the regulatory lead for the development of Vectibix® and its companion diagnostic, and she led global filings and approvals for manufacturing changes across multiple products, including for Aranesp®.  Dr. Sproule began her career at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals.  She received her B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry, respectively, from the University of Warwick, UK.  She also held a postdoctoral research position at the Institute of Biotechnology, Cambridge University, also in the UK.

Dr. Sproule stated, "With the rapid progress of clinical programs under Kite's exclusive collaboration with the NCI, it is important for the Company to chart a strong approach and strategy for the regulatory process and submissions.  I am excited to join Kite as the Company's R&D programs accelerate and as we see intensifying external interest in and validation of the paradigm-changing promise of cancer immunotherapy, in which Kite has maintained a leading position."

About Kite Pharma
Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite) is a privately held development stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products, with a primary focus on eACT™ designed to restore the immune system's ability to recognize and eradicate tumors. In partnership with the NCI Surgery Branch, Kite is advancing a pipeline of proprietary eACT™ product candidates, both CAR and TCR products, directed to a wide range of cancer indications. These novel personalized and targeted immunotherapies, which capitalize on the selectivity and potency of immune cells, are designed to provide significant and durable clinical benefit regardless of tumor origin, disease stage, and prior treatments. Kite's management team has a proven track record of building successful biotechnology companies and successfully developing cutting-edge immunotherapies and oncology treatments. Kite is based in Los Angeles, CA.  For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.kitepharma.com.

Kite Contact:
Dr. Arie Belldegrun
Executive Chairman
310-824-9999
[email protected]

For Media:
Justin Jackson
Burns McClellan
(212) 213-0006
[email protected]

SOURCE Kite Pharma, Inc.

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