Kite Pharma Announces the First Meta-Analysis of Outcomes in Chemorefractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (SCHOLAR-1)

Median overall survival was 6.6 months and consistent across subgroups including refractory status, stage of disease and line of therapy

Overall response rate was 26% with only 8% achieving a complete response

Data provide a benchmark for future studies

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:KITE) ("Kite") today announced results from SCHOLAR-1 (Retrospective Non-Hodgkin LymphomaResearch), the first, large, systematic, multi-institutional, patient-level meta-analysis of outcomes from 635 patients with chemorefractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study showed that patients with chemorefractory disease - defined as disease that does not respond to treatment with a chemotherapy-based regimen or has relapsed less than 12 months after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) - have consistently poor outcomes regardless of refractory subgroup, line of therapy, and disease stage. The study will be presented today at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (abstract #7516).

"These study results are important because they confirm the regrettable outcomes that have been observed in the clinical setting for people with this difficult-to-treat form of DLBCL," said Dr. John Kuruvilla, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and a clinical investigator in the Department of Medical Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. "While DLBCL is considered curable with initial chemotherapy-based treatment, patients with chemorefractory DLBCL have limited-to-no treatment options and historically poor outcomes, underscoring the significant need for new therapies."

According to the American Cancer Society, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounts for about four percent of all cancers in the United States, making it one of the most common cancers diagnosed. DLBCL is the most common form of the disease, accounting for one out of every three cases of NHL.¹ It is estimated that approximately 26,000 people will be diagnosed with DLBCL in the United States in 2016.

"Little is known about the outcomes of people with chemorefractory DLBCL, leaving a large gap in the treatment landscape. These data help to track the course of the disease and provide an important historical benchmark for studies in this patient population," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Kite's Executive Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Medical Officer. "We are proud to partner with clinicians, scientists and researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Iowa, the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, and LYSARC (The Lymphoma Academic Research Organisation) to help establish a better understanding of the disease to determine how best to treat patients with chemorefractory DLBCL."

About the SCHOLAR-1 Study

The SCHOLAR-1 (Retrospective Non-Hodgkin LymphomaResearch) is a retrospective analysis of patients with chemorefractory DLBCL comprised of data from Phase 3 studies from the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG LY.12 Study) and LYSARC (CORAL Study) and large retrospective databases including from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic and University of Iowa Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE).

In the study, 635 patients with chemorefractory DLBCL were eligible for evaluation based on the following criteria: DLBCL defined as progressive disease as best response to chemotherapy; or stable disease as best response to chemotherapy (received at least 4 cycles of first-line or 2 cycles of later-line therapy); or relapse ≤ 12 months of ASCT. Patients must have received an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (unless CD20 negative) and an anthracycline as one of their prior regimens.

Results to be presented at ASCO showed:

• The overall response rate (ORR; complete response plus partial response) across all 635 patients was 26% (165/635) with only 8% (51/635) achieving a complete response, showing no signs of the disease
• The response rates were consistent ranging from 21% to 31% ORR and 2% to 15% complete response (CR) across centers and data sets
• Median overall survival was 6.6 months and consistent across subgroups including refractory status, stage of disease and line of therapy

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.

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 therapies for the treatment of chemorefractory DLBCL. 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 its Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 9, 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.

References:1. American Cancer Society. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003126-pdf.pdf Accessed May 20, 2016

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Kite Pharma, Inc.Greg MannVP, Investor Relationsgmann@kitepharma.comorFor Media:inVentiv HealthDavid Polk310-309-1029david.polk@inventivhealth.comorAnne Cummings212-845-5632anne.cummings@inventivhealth.com

Source: Kite Pharma, Inc.

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