Kite Pharma Announces Presentations at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Pharma, Inc., (Nasdaq:KITE) ("Kite") a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing engineered autologous T cell therapy (eACT™) products for the treatment of cancer, today announced four presentations to be delivered at the upcoming American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting. The presentations will address KTE-C19, Kite's lead chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) product candidate, and, separately, a fully-human anti-CD19 CAR product candidate for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. The fully-human anti-CD19 CAR product candidate is currently being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Kite and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  Under this CRADA, Kite collaborates with James (Jim) N. Kochenderfer, M.D., an investigator in the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch of the NCI.

Oral Presentations:

The Impact of Different Hinge and Transmembrane Components on the Function of a Novel Fully-Human Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor

Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016 4:45-5:00PM Eastern TimeSession: Cancer-Targeted Gene and Cell Therapy (3:30-5:30PM Eastern Time)Abstract Number: 74Location:  Washington 1-2, Marriott Wardman ParkPresenter: Leah Alabanza, Ph.D., Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Production of KTE-C19 (Anti-CD19 CAR T Cells) for ZUMA-1:  A Phase 1/2 Multi-Center Study Evaluating Safety and Efficacy in Subjects with Refractory Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Date:   Thursday, May 5, 2016 4:15-4:30PM Eastern TimeSession:  Vector and Cell Engineering/Manufacturing (4:00-5:45PM Eastern Time)Abstract Number:  287Location:  Washington 1-2, Marriott Wardman ParkPresenter:  Marc Better, Ph.D., Kite Pharma, Santa Monica, CA

Updated Phase 1 Results from ZUMA-1:  A Phase 1/2 Multi-Center Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of KTE-C19 (Anti-CD19 CAR T Cells) in Subjects with Refractory Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Date:  Saturday, May 7, 2016 10:15-10:30AM Eastern TimeSession:   Cancer-Immunotherapy, Cancer Vaccines III (10:15AM-12:15PM Eastern Time)Abstract Number:   745Location:  Thurgood Marshall North, Marriott Wardman ParkPresenter:  Frederick Locke, M.D., Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Poster Presentation:

Development of a Manufacturing Process Using Monte Carlo Simulations to Support KTE-C19 (Anti-CD19 CAR T Cells) Studies in Leukemia

Date:  Friday, May 6, 2016 6:00-8:00PM Eastern TimeSession:  Cancer-Immunotherapy, Cancer Vaccines IIIAbstract Number:  650Location:  Exhibit Hall C & B South, Marriott Wardman ParkPresenter:  Kenny Choi, Kite Pharma, Santa Monica, CA

About Kite Pharma

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. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

About Kite's ZUMA Clinical Programs for KTE-C19

KTE-C19 is an investigational therapy in which a patient's T cells are genetically modified to express a CAR designed to target the antigen CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B cell lymphomas and leukemias.  Kite is currently enrolling four pivotal studies (also known as ZUMA studies) for KTE-C19 in patients with various B cell malignancies.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status to KTE-C19, for the treatment of patients with refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma, and transformed follicular lymphoma. KTE-C19 has also secured Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. for DLBCL and in the EU for various hematological indications. 

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the ability to advance multiple clinical trials of KTE-C19, and the ability and willingness of the NCI to continue research and development activities pursuant to the CRADA. Various factors may cause differences between Kite's expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail in Kite's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation in Kite's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Greg Mann

VP, Investor Relations

gmann@kitepharma.com



For Media: Justin JacksonBurns McClellan

(212) 213-0006

jjackson@burnsmc.com

Source: Kite Pharma, Inc.

News Provided by Acquire Media