Kite Pharma And Vitruvian Networks Enter Strategic Partnership To Develop Best-In-Class Logistics And Data Analytics Software For Engineered T-Cell Therapies At Commercial Scale

Strategic Partnership will Connect Vitruvian’s Cloud-Based Software with Kite Pharma’s Kite Konnect™ Platform to Enable Commercial-Scale Logistics for T-cell Therapies

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kite Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: KITE) and Vitruvian Networks, Inc., a pioneering cell and gene therapy software and analytics platform company co-founded by GE Ventures and the Mayo Clinic, announced today a strategic partnership to create a software solution to support commercial availability of T-cell therapies. Together, the parties will design and develop a platform for patients, physicians and treatment centers that enables commercial-scale ordering, logistics, monitoring and delivery of autologous cell therapies if they are FDA-approved, including axicabtagene ciloleucel (formerly known as KTE-C19), Kite’s lead investigational engineered T-cell therapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“We are honored to work with Kite to accelerate the design and development of Vitruvian Network’s cell and gene therapy software and data analytics platform”

The collaboration brings together complementary capabilities from each company, including Kite’s clinical development, manufacturing, supply chain and commercial leadership in engineered T-cell therapy and Vitruvian’s hybrid expertise in building cloud-based software and data analytics solutions in cell and gene therapy manufacturing and delivery settings.

“Kite’s technology and services, which will be known as Kite Konnect™, will directly shape the overall experience of patients, physicians, and treatment centers as engineered T-cell therapies potentially become available commercially,” said Tim Moore, Executive Vice President of Technical Operations for Kite. “We are committed to advanced solutions that improve speed and customer satisfaction, streamline logistics and ensure excellence for chain of identity and custody which is essential for safety and quality. Our strategic partnership with Vitruvian is a key component of our overall technology strategy and builds on our research collaboration with GE Global Research to automate manufacturing of engineered T-cell therapies.”

“We are honored to work with Kite to accelerate the design and development of Vitruvian Network’s cell and gene therapy software and data analytics platform,” said Amy DuRoss, Chief Executive Officer of Vitruvian Networks. “Companies like Kite, who sit on the leading edge of scientific innovation, require a cloud-based, design-led solution to ensure they have a safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use platform to serve a growing number of patients who are desperate for these potentially lifesaving therapies. Our software and analytics solution will help Kite and other cell therapy producers deliver their treatments to more patients, expediting growth of the personalized medicine industry.”

Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will contribute resources and relevant experience to the partnership. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About axicabtagene ciloleucel

Kite Pharma’s lead product candidate, axicabtagene ciloleucel, is an investigational therapy in which a patient’s T cells are engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to target the antigen CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias, and redirect the T cells to kill cancer cells. Axicabtagene ciloleucel has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL), and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Priority Medicines (PRIME) regulatory support for DLBCL in the EU.

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 http://www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

About Vitruvian Networks

Vitruvian Networks was co-founded by GE Ventures and the Mayo Clinic to solve key challenges in the commercialization and delivery of cell and gene therapies. Vitruvian Networks’ suite of software solutions improves patient access, expedites life-changing treatment delivery, and promotes safety compliance for personalized cell therapies. The Vitruvian Networks platform addresses ordering, logistics, resource planning, mission control center, regulatory compliance, and customer service. Vitruvian Networks is based in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.vineti.com. Sign up to follow @vinetiworks on https://twitter.com/vinetiworks.

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. The press release may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “expected,” “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 intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the ability to design and develop a platform for patients, physicians and treatment centers that enables commercial-scale ordering, logistics, monitoring and delivery of autologous cell therapies, and the ability to obtain regulatory approval, commercialize and scale engineered autologous cell therapies, including axicabtagene ciloleucel. 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 its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Any forward-looking statements that are made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Kite assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.