Kite Pharma Commends Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., on the Prestigious Medal of Honor Award From the American Cancer Society

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite) (Nasdaq:KITE) today announced that Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Surgery at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a special advisor to Kite, has received three significant awards for his achievements and career dedicated to advancing cancer research. The American Cancer Society (ACS), the largest voluntary health organization in the United States, awarded Dr. Rosenberg its Medal of Honor for his pioneering leadership in cancer immunotherapy. The Medal of Honor is the ACS' highest honor and was presented to Dr. Rosenberg at a ceremony held in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2015. Additional recent awards include:

• Dr. Rosenberg has been awarded the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for career achievement by the Partnership for Public Service. The "Sammies" are bestowed upon individuals to highlight excellence in the federal workforce and inspire other talented and dedicated individuals to go into public service. Dr. Rosenberg will receive his award during a gala and ceremony that is taking place tonight, October 7, in Washington, DC.
• Susan G. Komen, the world's largest breast cancer organization, awarded Dr. Rosenberg the Betty Ford Lifetime Achievement Award for his four decades of work in fighting cancer at the NCI. This award recognizes individuals who have committed their lives to engaging the public in the fight against breast cancer, advocating for meaningful change, and educating communities to support women and men facing the disease.  Dr. Rosenberg was recognized during the Honoring the Promise gala, which took place in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2015.

In 2012, Kite partnered with Dr. Rosenberg and the NCI under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to further the research and development of multiple chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) based product candidates for the treatment of advanced solid and hematological malignancies. Many of these product candidates are now being assessed in clinical trials and Kite has since exclusively licensed intellectual property related to certain of these product candidates.

"We have always appreciated the great honor of being able to advance cancer therapies with Steve and are thrilled that three of the most prominent awards in medicine and public service have been made in recognition of the pivotal role Steve has played in cancer care and research on the national stage," said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kite.  "During his long and successful career, Steve's insights time and again have had an astounding impact on the direction of cancer research. His contributions, including to the exciting field of cancer immunotherapy, have been immense, and we are elated for Steve to receive these awards."

About Kite Pharma, Inc.

Kite Pharma, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products, with a primary focus on engineered autologous cell therapy (eACT™) designed to restore the immune system's ability to recognize and eradicate tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite Pharma, please visit www.kitepharma.com.

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