Kite Pharma
Company type | Publicly traded company |
---|---|
Nasdaq: KITE | |
Industry | Biopharmaceutical |
Founded | 2009 |
Founder | Arie Belldegrun |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Arie Belldegrun (Chairman, President and CEO) Cynthia Butitta (COO and CFO) David Chang (CMO) Margo Roberts (CSO)[1] |
Products | Cancer immunotherapy |
Website | www.kitepharma.com |
Kite Pharma is a publicly held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products with a primary focus on engineered autologous T cell therapy (eACT™) designed to restore the immune system's ability to recognize and eradicate tumors.[2]
The Santa Monica, California-based company was founded in 2009 by Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, an Israeli-American oncologist, who serves as the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer.[1]
Development
2012
In October, Kite Pharma entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the development and commercialization of eACT™ products for the treatment of multiple cancer indications.[3]
2013
In December, the company announced data in its lead clinical development program with the NCI, demonstrating that Kite’s most advanced immunotherapy product candidate – KTE-C19 CAR – can produce robust and durable tumor shrinkage in patients with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, known as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).[4] The clinical data were presented at the 55th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.[5]
2014
In March, the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development granted orphan drug designation for the company's proposed therapy for DLBCL.[6]
In June, Kite Pharma entered into an exclusive, worldwide license with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to certain intellectual property related to TCR-based product candidates that target the NY-ESO-1 antigen for the treatment of cancers expressing NY-ESO-1.[7]
In August, Kite Pharma announced findings from its ongoing clinical trial: 12 of 13 evaluable patients with advanced B-cell malignancies had complete remissions (8 patients) or partial remissions (4 patients) resulting in a 92% objective response rate. The results support Kite Pharma's plan to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the fourth quarter of 2014 to initiate a clinical trial of Kite Pharma's lead CAR-based product candidate, KTE-C19, in patients with DLBCL.[8]
2015
In January, Kite Pharma and Amgen entered into a strategic research collaboration and license agreement to develop and commercialize the next generation of novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapies based on Kite's engineered autologous cell therapy (eACT™) platform and Amgen's extensive array of cancer targets.[9][10]
In May, Kite Pharma announced that the first patient in its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of KTE-C19 in patients with refractory aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma has been treated.[11]
In June, Kite Pharma and bluebird bio, Inc. announced they have entered into a collaboration agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize second generation T cell receptor product candidates directed against the human papillomavirus type 16 E6 oncoprotein incorporating gene editing and lentiviral technologies.[12]
In July, Kite Pharma and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced that they 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's Lymphoma.[13]
In September, Kite Pharma announced that it has expanded its collaboration with the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). Kite and the NKI have entered into an agreement under which Kite will receive from the NKI the exclusive option to license multiple T cell receptor (TCR) gene sequences for the development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapy candidates targeting solid tumors. Kite has also expanded its access to additional resources and research facilities through a master services agreement with the NKI.[14]
In October, Kite Pharma announced that it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for intellectual property related to T cell receptor (TCR)-based product candidates directed against MAGE A3 and A3/A6 antigens for the treatment of tumors expressing MAGE, which include lung, pancreatic, gastric, and breast cancers, among others.[15] In the same month, Kite Pharma announced that it has entered into a worldwide research and license agreement with Alpine Immune Sciences (AIS), a privately held biotechnology startup, to discover and develop protein-based immunotherapies targeting the immune synapse to treat cancer. AIS will grant Kite an exclusive license to two programs from its transmembrane immunomodulatory protein (TIP) technology, which Kite plans to further engineer into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) product candidates. This collaboration will accelerate Kite's efforts to establish the next generation of engineered T cell therapies specifically designed to overcome the inhibitory mechanisms present in the tumor microenvironment.[16][17]
In December, Kite Pharma announced that it has initiated a phase 1/2 clinical study of KTE-C19 (ZUMA-3) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). KTE-C19 is an investigational therapy in which a patient's T cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor designed to target the antigen CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias.[18] In the same month, Kite Pharma and GE Global Research announced they will partner to develop a next-generation, functionally integrated and automated manufacturing system for engineered T-cell therapy. Kite and GE Global Research—GE’s centralized R&D hub—said they aim to increase the availability of engineered T-cell therapies by speeding up development of automation technologies that have the potential to lower costs, operate faster, and minimize variability.[19] Also in December, Kite announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status to the Company's lead product candidate, KTE-C19, for the treatment of patients with refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL), and transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL).[20]
2016
It was announced that Kite Pharma will present at the 34th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January 2016.[21] Also in January, it was announced that Kite Pharma has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NCI for the research and clinical development of a fully human anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) product candidate for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias.[22] Moreover, Kite Pharma announced that its European subsidiary has entered into a research and license agreement with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) to identify and develop T cell receptor (TCR) product candidates targeting solid tumors that are associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 infection.[23]
In March, Kite Pharma has announced that it would be collaborating with Genentech, in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two of its novel therapies. The target population for the tests would be patients suffering from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The therapies in question, KTE-C19 and atezolizumab, would be tested in combination with each other.[24]
Business history
In March 2011, Kite Pharma received $15 million in Series A venture cash.[25]
In May 2013, Kite Pharma completed a $35 million financing of Series A preferred stock.[26][27][28]
In April 2014, Kite Pharma completed a $50 million mezzanine private financing of convertible notes.[29][30]
In May 2014, Kite Pharma filed a registration with the SEC for an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock.[31]
In June 2014, Kite Pharma sold 8,625,000 shares of its common stock in their IPO at $17.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $146.6 million.[32][33][34] The company listed on the NASDAQ Global market under the symbol “KITE.”
In December 2014, Kite Pharma sold 4,007,750 shares of it common stock in their follow-on offering at $54.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $216.4 million.[35]
In March 2015, Kite Pharma acquired T-Cell Factory, a privately held biotechnology company based in the Netherlands, for $21 million and renamed it – Kite Pharma EU. Per the deal, Kite Pharma has obtained license agreements with IBA GmbH, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), which include the rights to select new intellectual property related to T-cell receptors (TCRs) developed at the NKI. Additionally, the TCF acquisition will allow Kite Pharma to access the European manufacturing facilities, paving way for the company to initiate development programs in the EU and build its presence in the region.[36][37]
In December 2015, Kite Pharma sold 4,168,750 shares of its common stock in a public offering at $69.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $287.6 million.[38]
References
- ^ a b "Senior Management Team". Kite Pharma. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "About Kite Pharma". Kite Pharma. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Partners with the National Cancer Institute to Develop Novel Cellular Immunotherapy Clinical Products". Kite Pharma . 16 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma's Lead Program with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Demonstrates Positive Results in Patients with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma”. Kite Pharma . 7 December 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ “Donor-derived allogeneic T cells may cause regression of B-cell malignancies”. HemOnc Today . 7 December 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Announces FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Anti-CD19 T Cell Cancer Immunotherapy Product". Kite Pharma . 31 March 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Announces Exclusive License with The National Institutes of Health for T Cell Receptor (TCR)-Based Products Targeting NY-ESO-1 For Multiple Cancer Indications".Kite Pharma. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ Ro, Sam (26 August 2014). "Biotech Stock Kite Pharma Explodes Higher After Good News About Its Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Drug". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "". Reuters. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Amgen and Kite Pharma Announce Strategic Cancer Immunotherapy Collaboration to Advance the Application of Novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapies". Kite Pharma. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Announces That the First Patient in Its Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Has Been Treated With KTE-C19, Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy, for Refractory Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) ". MarketWatch. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma & Bluebird Bio To Co-develop T Cell Cell Therapy Products". NASDAQ. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma (KITE), Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Enter Into Collaboration". StreetInsider.com. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Expands Collaboration With Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI)". Kite Pharma. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Announces Exclusive License with the National Institutes of Health for T Cell Receptor (TCR)-Based Products to Treat Tumors Expressing MAGE". FiereceBiotech. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "Kite to spend as much as $530 million on rights to AIS programs ". ThePharmaLetter. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ Demmitt, Jacob (28 October 2015). "Seattle’s Alpine Immune Sciences licenses cancer treatment to Kite Pharma for up to $530M". GeekWire. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma (KITE) Announces Initiation of KTE-C19 Phase 1/2". StreetInsider. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma, GE Global Research Partner on T-Cell Therapy Manufacturing". Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma (KITE) Announces KTE-C19 for NHL Granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation". StreetInsider. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma to Present at the 34th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference". NASDAQ. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ "Kite Pharma (KITE), NCI Expand Clinical and Research Partnership". TheStreet.com. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma and Leiden University Medical Center Sign Research and License Agreement for T Cell Receptors Targeting HPV-Associated Cancers". FierceBiotech. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ^ Sandford, Miles (18 March 2016). "Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:KITE) To Begin a Collaborative Study on KTE-C19". Journal Transcript. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Raises $15 Million in Initial Round of Financing and Appoints David Bonderman to Board of Directors”. Kite Pharma . 9 March 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Completes $35 Million Series A Preferred Stock Financing”. Kite Pharma . 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ Orbach, Meir (18 May 2014). "טיפול לסרטן שפותח ברחובות נמצא בדרך לנאסד"ק" (In Hebrew). Calcalist (Tel Aviv). Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ McBride, Ryan (15 May 2013). "UPDATED: Billionaires back Kite Pharma in $20M raise for cancer immunotherapies". FierceBiotech. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ " Kite Pharma, Inc. Completes $50 Million Mezzanine Private Financing". Kite Pharma. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Carroll, John (28 April 2014). "Immuno-oncology specialist Kite adds $50M in new financing". FierceBiotech. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering”. Kite Pharma. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering”. Kite Pharma. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ Calia, Michael (20 June 2014). "Kite Pharma Soars Above IPO Price on First Day of Trading". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ^ “Kite Pharma Announces Full Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional Shares”. Kite Pharma. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Announces Pricing of Follow-On Offering". Reuters. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Acquires T-Cell Factory for $21M Up Front". Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ Zacks.com (18 March 2015)."Kite Pharma (KITE) Acquires T-Cell Factory, Focus on Europe - Analyst Blog". NASDAQ. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Kite Pharma Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock". Reuters. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.