Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. (OTCQB: LBIO) announced the appointment of James G. Bender, Ph.D., as Vice President, Product Development and Manufacturing. Dr. Bender has more than 25 years of clinical development experience, primarily focused on cancer therapies, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

“Lion Biotechnologies is beginning to build a first-rate management team, and Dr. Bender will play an important role in the clinical and manufacturing progress of our T-cell program,” said Manish Singh, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Lion Biotechnologies. “His expertise in developing cancer immunotherapies will facilitate our advancement into a Phase III trial for metastatic melanoma, and help to optimize our partnerships with the National Cancer Institute and leading cancer research centers.”

Before joining Lion Biotechnologies Dr. Bender was Vice President of Product Development and Manufacturing with ImmunoCellular Therapeutics from 2008 to 2013, leading the process development and manufacturing for dendritic cell vaccines for glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. Before that he was at IDM Pharma for six years, serving as director of product development, where he led the efforts relating to the clinical development of dendritic cell vaccines for melanoma and colon cancer, and a peptide vaccine for lung cancer. Prior to that, he was at Nexell Therapeutics, the spinout of the Baxter Immunotherapy Division, where he led the research team developing therapeutic stem cell and cancer vaccine products. Earlier Dr. Bender spent 10 years with Baxter Healthcare Corporation in the corporate research group, and eight years with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He has authored more than 80 scientific publications and is an inventor on 13 U.S. patents. He holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s in Public Health in laboratory management from the University of Michigan.

About Lion Biotechnologies

Lion Biotechnologies, Inc., is engaged in the development of T-cells and engineered T-cells for the treatment of various cancers. The company's lead product candidate is a ready-to-infuse autologous T-cell therapy utilizing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for the treatment of patients with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, and is based on a clinical CRADA with the National Cancer Institute along with physician-sponsored investigational therapy at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute. For more information, please visit www.lionbio.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential of the Company’s technology to treat metastatic tumors. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

INVESTOR CONTACT:LHADon Markley, 310-691-7100dmarkley@lhai.com