Kite Pharma Commends Scientific Advisory Board Members on Awards Received from the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)

Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D. and Ronald Levy, M.D. recognized for their major contributions to cancer research

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:KITE), today announced that two members of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) are being honored at this year's annual meeting of the AACR. 

• Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D., is receiving the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award for his clinical research leading to improved treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma. Dr. Ribas is Professor of Medicine, Professor of Surgery, and Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Director of the Tumor Immunology Program at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) and the Chair of the Melanoma Committee at SWOG. Dr. Ribas had a seminal role in the development of BRAF and PD-1 inhibitors for melanoma, leading to the approval of several new treatments for this disease. The award lecture will focus on Dr. Ribas' studies elucidating the mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy. Dr. Ribas is the second member of Kite's SAB to receive this prestigious award. Owen Witte, M.D., Chairman of Kite's SAB, received this award in 1991. The award lecture will be held during the AACR Conference on Monday, April 18, in the Morial Convention Center.
• Ronald Levy, M.D., is receiving the Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology for the impact his innovative research has made in cancer immunology. Dr. Levy is the Robert K. Summy and Helen K. Summy Professor of Medicine and Director of the Lymphoma Program at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is also the Associate Director of Translational Science for the Stanford Cancer Institute. For more than 25 years, his research has focused on monoclonal antibodies and the study of malignant lymphoma, currently using the tools of immunology and molecular biology to develop a better understanding of the initiation and progression of the malignant process. Dr. Levy is the second member of Kite's SAB to receive this honor. James P. Allison, Ph.D., received this award in 2013. The award lecture will be held during the AACR Conference on Tuesday, April 19, in the Morial Convention Center.   

"We are extremely proud of our Scientific Advisory Board members for these prestigious honors," said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The contributions of Toni and Ron have been a leading factor in the advancement of cancer therapy research. They are greatly deserving of these awards and Kite is honored to work alongside them."

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.

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Source: Kite Pharma, Inc.

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