Kite Pharma, Inc., and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) have entered into a partnership to enhance the development of Kite's lead product candidate, KTE-C19, for the treatment of patients with refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

KTE-C19 is an investigational therapy in which a patient's T cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) designed to target CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B cell lymphomas and leukemias.

Under the collaboration, LLS will launch a broad scope educational programme focusing on CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of blood cancers, as well as support outreach for clinical trial enrollment. LLS also will contribute up to $2.5 million, through the Therapy Acceleration Programme (TAP), to help fund Kite's ongoing phase 1/2 clinical study of KTE-C19, which is designed to evaluate safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as well as two rare lymphomas - primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL).  Based on the progress of the programme, Kite will make certain milestone payments to LLS and provide financial support to LLS for its rollout of the education programme.

"LLS is committed to supporting the development of potentially curative therapies for patients diagnosed with blood cancers, and we view KTE-C19 as a candidate with great potential for patients with lymphoma who have limited treatment options," said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., LLS president and chief executive officer.

"We are thrilled to partner with a company that has a leading presence in CAR T-cell therapy and a commitment to educate patients."

"Kite is honoured by this collaboration with LLS, as it signals their belief that KTE-C19 is a therapy that could positively affect the lives of the many patients diagnosed with blood cancers. I am excited that LLS, through its educational programme, will properly inform doctors, patients and the general public of the promising future of precision immunotherapies for cancer," said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Kite's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Pivotal results from the KTE-C19 DLBCL study are expected in 2016 and, if promising, could lead to the potential launch and commercialisation of KTE-C19 in 2017. Kite also plans to launch an additional three trials of KTE-C19 before the end of 2015 in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

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 T-cell therapy designed to restore the immune system's ability to recognize and eradicate tumours.