Kite Pharma To Highlight Cancer Immunotherapy T Cell Manufacturing Process At 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing engineered autologous T cell therapy (eACT™) products for the treatment of cancer, today announced the Company will provide details on key features of the rapid, 6-day manufacturing process that is expected to underlie its most advanced personalized cancer immunotherapy program.  The technology is expected to underpin a Kite clinical trial in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a highly refractory and aggressive blood cancer, which Kite expects to commence in early 2015.  Elements of Kite's manufacturing process will be featured in a poster presentation during the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), taking place in Chicago, May 30 to June 3, 2014.

ASCO 2014 Poster Presentation
Title:  Rapid cell expansion (RACE) technology for production of engineered autologous T-cell therapy: Path toward manageable multicenter clinical trials in aggressive NHL with anti-CD19 CAR.

Authors:  Marc Better¹, Omar Pugach¹, Lily Lu², Robert Somerville², Sadik Kassim², James Kochenderfer², Steven A. Rosenberg², Margaret A. Marshall¹, Adrian Bot¹, Keith B. Nolop¹, Margo Roberts¹, Steven Feldman².  Key:  1  Kite Pharma, 2  National Cancer Institute

Abstract:  #3079

Poster:  #146

General Poster Session:  Developmental Therapeutics - Immunotherapy

Date and Location:  Sunday, June 1, 2014, 8:00am – 11:45am Central Time; S Hall A2

About Kite Pharma
Kite Pharma, Inc., is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical 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 through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), Kite is advancing a pipeline of proprietary eACT™ product candidates, both CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) and TCR (T cell receptor) products, directed to a wide range of cancer indications.  Kite's management team has a proven track record of building successful biotechnology companies and successfully developing novel immunotherapies and other oncology treatments.  Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA.

Kite Contact:
Cynthia M. Butitta
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
310-824-9999

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

SOURCE Kite Pharma, Inc.