Lion Biotechnologies Appoints James Bender, Ph.D., as Vice President, Product Development and Manufacturing
January 09 2014 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
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