On January 07, 2016 Kite Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:KITE) reported that it 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 (Press release, Kite Pharma, JAN 7, 2016, View Source [SID:1234508683]). Under the CRADA, Kite will collaborate with James (Jim) N. Kochenderfer, M.D., an investigator in the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch of the NCI, to evaluate this product candidate in a Phase 1 clinical study this year.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
In addition, the newly established CRADA will focus on the development of next-generation CAR programs directed against other novel antigens for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. Kite will also continue to advance multiple CAR and T cell receptor (TCR) programs under its existing CRADA with the Surgery Branch of the NCI, led by Dr. Rosenberg, a recognized pioneer in immuno-oncology and special advisor to Kite.
"We are delighted to expand our partnership with the NCI by working with the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch. Our close collaboration with the Surgery Branch over the past three years has enabled us to advance the science behind T cell therapy and to expand our clinical product candidate portfolio at Kite. The new CRADA is a natural step in our life cycle management strategy to further improve the success of CAR therapy for patients with advanced B-cell malignancies," said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.
"Dr. Kochenderfer is a world renowned expert in T cell therapy who pioneered innovative CAR T therapies for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma," added David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development. "His seminal research in anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy has been instrumental for our lead product candidate, KTE-C19, which is currently in four Kite-sponsored clinical trials in B-cell malignancies. We look forward to expanding our successful collaboration on next generation technologies with Jim."