SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:KITE) today announced the appointment of Tim Moore as Executive Vice President, Technical Operations. With more than three decades of industry experience, Mr. Moore will be responsible for product development, manufacturing, supply chain, quality assurance, and end-to-end process optimization for all aspects of Kite’s engineered T cell product candidates. Mr. Moore will report to Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.
“We are pleased to welcome Tim Moore and the deep, global experience he brings in biopharmaceutical production to Kite,” said Dr. Belldegrun. “Tim has directly contributed to the design and management of one of the most reliable, efficient and skilled biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations in the world. His breadth of operational expertise and commitment to innovation and quality will serve Kite well as we prepare for the potential launch of KTE-C19 in 2017.”
Mr. Moore joins Kite Pharma from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, where he served most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Pharmaceutical Technical Operations Biologics and a member of the Genentech Executive Committee. In this position, he oversaw global manufacturing and end-to-end quality supply performance of more than 20 biological product families totaling more than $28 billion in sales, across 150 countries, 7,500 professionals and 10 internal manufacturing sites. Mr. Moore’s previous roles at Genentech include Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Vice President, South San Francisco Manufacturing, and Vice President, Corporate Engineering. Prior to joining Genentech, he served as Vice President, Operations at ZLB Behring (formerly Aventis Behring). Mr. Moore has also held engineering positions at Merck & Co. He holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Tulsa, and an MS in engineering management from Northwestern University.
“Kite is uniquely positioned with advanced manufacturing capabilities, tested cell production processes, and an industry-leading approach to process innovation,” said Mr. Moore. “I am excited to be part of the pioneering team that is working to bring potentially transformative engineered cell therapies to patients in dire need of treatment options.”
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 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.
About Kite's ZUMA Clinical Programs
| Study | Phase | Indication | Status |
| ZUMA-1 NCT02348216 | Phase 2 Pivotal (N=112) | Refractory DLBCL, PMBCL, TFL | Phase 2 enrolling |
| ZUMA-2 NCT02601313 | Phase 2 Pivotal (N=70) | Relapsed/refractory MCL | Phase 2 enrolling |
| ZUMA-3 NCT02614066 | Phase 1/2 Pivotal (N=75) | Relapsed/refractory Adult ALL | Phase 1/2 enrolling |
| ZUMA-4 NCT02625480 | Phase 1/2 Pivotal (N=75) | Relapsed/refractory Pediatric ALL | Phase 1/2 enrolling |
| DLBCL = diffuse large B cell lymphoma | |||
| PMBCL = primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma | |||
| TFL = transformed follicular lymphoma | |||
| MCL = mantle cell lymphoma | |||
| ALL = acute lymphoblastic leukemia | |||
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 to obtain regulatory approval based on the studies of KTE-C19. 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.