Tesaro, Inc. And AnaptysBio, Inc. Expand Immuno-Oncology Collaboration To Include Novel Bispecific Antibody Candidate

--Candidate Will Target Two Undisclosed Immune Checkpoints

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--Anti-TIM-3 Antibody Data to be Presented Today at the AACR Conference in Orlando

WALTHAM, Mass. and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TESARO, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, and AnaptysBio, Inc., a privately-held therapeutic antibody company, today announced an expansion of their immuno-oncology collaboration and exclusive license agreement to include development of a novel bispecific antibody candidate designed to target two undisclosed immune checkpoints.

AnaptysBio and TESARO first initiated their collaboration in March of 2014, and have together focused on the development of monospecific antibody drug candidates targeting TIM-3, LAG-3 and PD-1 and dual reactive antibody drug candidates targeting PD-1/TIM-3 and PD-1/LAG-3. Since the beginning of this partnership, Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling preclinical studies of TSR-042 (anti-PD-1 antibody candidate) have been initiated, and additional clinical candidates have been identified, including lead candidates targeting TIM-3 and LAG-3.

"Through our collaboration with AnaptysBio, we are employing a variety of approaches, including monospecific, bispecific and dual specific antibodies, to address some of the most validated and promising immune checkpoint targets," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., president and COO of TESARO. "We are committed to advancing the science of immuno-oncology in order to potentially transform the care of patients with cancer. Our team looks forward to continued collaboration with AnaptysBio on these programs and to the presentation of data describing our anti-TIM-3 antibody candidate at the AACR conference later today in Orlando."

"AnaptysBio continues to focus on the development of therapeutic antibodies for unmet medical needs in immuno-oncology, inflammation and fibrosis. Our strategic advantage is the ability to rapidly discover and develop therapeutic antibodies against emerging biological targets using the natural somatic hypermutation mechanism encoded within the human immune system," said Hamza Suria, president and CEO of AnaptysBio. "We are pleased to expand our collaboration with TESARO, and look forward to advancing multiple immuno-oncology antibodies into the clinic."

Under the terms of this expansion, TESARO will pay AnaptysBio an undisclosed upfront fee and will provide funding for all costs incurred by AnaptysBio related to the development of a clinical antibody candidate. For each program within the collaboration, AnaptysBio is eligible to receive milestone payments if certain research and development events are achieved and additional payments for achievement of certain U.S. and ex-U.S. regulatory submissions and approvals in multiple indications. AnaptysBio will also be eligible to receive royalties related to worldwide net sales of products developed under the collaboration, and may earn certain commercial milestone payments if specified levels of annual worldwide net sales are attained. AnaptysBio and TESARO will together complete preclinical development of the antibody candidates, with TESARO being solely responsible for all clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercial activities.

AACR Poster Presentation Details

AACR Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter (Orlando)
Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 1:15 PM to 3:30 PM, Poster Session A
Abstract title: Identification and characterization of a potent anti-human TIM-3 antagonist

This poster will be available following its presentation at: http://www.tesarobio.com/documents/AACRDec2014.pdf

About AnaptysBio

AnaptysBio is a privately-held antibody development company advancing first-in-class programs in immuno-oncology, inflammation and fibrosis. AnaptysBio's proprietary SHM-XELâ„¢ platform, which couples fully human antibody libraries with in vitro somatic hypermutation in mammalian cells to generate high affinity antibodies, replicates key features of the human immune system and overcomes limitations of prior antibody technologies. Multiple antibodies emanating from the AnaptysBio pipeline are currently undergoing IND-enabling studies with potentially transformative clinical read-outs during the 2016-2017 timeframe. For more information, visit www.anaptysbio.com.

About TESARO

TESARO is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by acquiring, developing and commercializing safer and more effective therapeutics. For more information, visit www.tesarobio.com.

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding TESARO, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward looking statements contained in this press release include, among others, statements regarding our expectations regarding the timing of both the selection of clinical candidates from the programs and the commencement of clinical testing, our development plans for any antibody therapeutic candidates individually and in combination other products and product candidates, and our ability to form partnerships in the future in support of our overall oncology strategy. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our research and pre-clinical development programs, clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the research and development of therapeutic antibodies, including the selection, pre-clinical testing and manufacturing of antibodies, initiation of future clinical trials, availability of data from ongoing clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of our drug candidates. TESARO undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see TESARO's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

CONTACT: TESARO Contact: Jennifer Davis Sr. Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations +1.781.325.1116 or jdavis@tesarobio.com AnaptysBio Contact: Julie Rathbun +1.206.769.9219 or julie@rathbuncomm.com

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