On January 13, 2016 Kite Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:KITE) reported 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 (Press release, Kite Pharma, JAN 13, 2016, View Source [SID:1234508789]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Under the terms of the agreement, Kite Pharma EU will partner with the LUMC Department of Clinical Oncology and Professor Dr. Sjoerd van der Burg, a leader in the research of HPV-associated cancers. Kite will also receive an exclusive option to license multiple TCR gene sequences for the development and commercialization of product candidates.
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"This collaboration expands our existing TCR franchise targeting HPV-associated cancers and creates an opportunity to broaden the coverage of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types across different patient populations," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development of Kite. "LUMC is an ideal partner, given its deep experience with the immune response to solid tumors, and complements our existing research and development capabilities in Europe."
Kite Pharma EU, based in Amsterdam, is focused on the discovery and development of tumor-specific TCRs for broad use in cancer treatment based on its TCR-GENErator platform. Kite Pharma EU is comprised of a leading team of immuno-oncology researchers and collaborators, including Professor Dr. Ton N. M. Schumacher, who serves as Chief Scientific Officer.
About HPV-Associated Cancers
There were over 525,000 new cases of and 265,000 deaths attributable to cervical cancer worldwide in 2012.1 HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, and HPV-16 is believed to cause about 50-60% of cervical cancers. HPV-16 is also implicated in additional anogenital and head and neck cancer types,2 and is believed to cause 90% of HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancers and the majority of HPV-mediated anal, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancers.
About Leiden University Medical Center
LUMC is a modern university medical center for research, education and patient care with a high quality profile and a strong scientific orientation. The Department of Clinical Oncology performs scientific research on the immune response to solid tumors, and in particular focuses on ways by which immunomodulation can help improve the outcome of treatment of patients with solid tumors, including human papillomavirus-driven cancers, ovarian cancer and melanoma. Current strategies aim at improving the immune response against cancer cells by therapeutic vaccination, targeting new checkpoint molecules, administration of ex vivo expanded T-cells, and/or oncolytic viruses, in combination with chemotherapy and other immune modulators.