Kite and Appia Bio Announce Collaboration to Research and Develop Allogeneic Cell Therapies for Cancer
August 05 2021 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
-- Collaboration Leverages Kite’s Chimeric
Antigen Receptors and Appia Bio’s Allogeneic Cell Technology
Platform to Develop Off-the-Shelf Cell Therapies --
Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), and Appia Bio, Inc., an
early stage biotechnology company developing engineered allogeneic
cell therapies from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for cancer
patients, today announced a collaboration and license agreement to
research and develop HSC-derived cell therapies directed toward
hematological malignancies. Under the partnership, Kite and Appia
Bio will develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered
invariant natural killer T (CAR-iNKT) cells using Appia Bio’s ACUA
technology platform for allogeneic cell therapy.
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Founded in 2020, Appia Bio recently announced the completion of
its Series A financing to support the advancement of the company’s
pipeline of allogeneic CAR-iNKT cell therapy candidates into the
clinic. With its ACUA technology platform, Appia Bio leverages the
biology of lymphocyte development to generate CAR-iNKT cells from
HSCs. The ACUA platform offers the potential for improved efficacy
and safety, streamlined manufacturing, and off-the-shelf
accessibility of HSC-derived CAR iNKT-cell therapies.
“We are thrilled to partner with a leader in cell therapy such
as Kite, who shares our vision for the potential of iNKT cells in
off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy,” said JJ Kang, PhD, Chief
Executive Officer of Appia Bio. “Our partnership with Kite is an
important step toward establishing the broad pipeline potential of
our ACUA platform and bringing new treatment options to
patients.”
“As a pioneer in cell therapy, Kite is deeply commited to
developing the next-generation of cell therapies to treat and
potentially cure cancer patients,” said Mert Aktar, Vice President
of Corporate Development and Strategy at Kite. “Through our
collaboration with Appia Bio, we’re excited to harness unique
biological properties of invariant natural killer T cells to
research and develop allogeneic cell therapies for cancer.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Appia Bio will be responsible
for preclinical and early clinical research of two HSC-derived
CAR-iNKT product candidates engineered with CARs provided by Kite.
Appia Bio will receive an upfront payment, an equity investment,
and additional milestone payments for a total value of up to $875
million as well as tiered royalties. Kite will be responsible for
the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the
product candidates identified through the collaboration.
About Kite
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company
based in Santa Monica, California, with commercial manufacturing
operations in North America and Europe. Kite’s singular focus is
cell therapy to treat and potentially cure cancer. As the cell
therapy leader, Kite has more approved CAR T indications to help
more patients than any other company. For more information on Kite,
please visit www.kitepharma.com.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has
pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three
decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all
people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines
to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV,
viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35
countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City,
California.
About Appia Bio
Appia Bio is an early stage biotechnology company based in Los
Angeles, California. Founded in 2020, Appia Bio is focused on
discovering and developing engineered allogeneic cell therapies
across a broad array of indications with a scalable technology
platform that increases access for patients. With its ACUA (Appia
Cells Utilized for Allogeneic) technology platform, Appia Bio
leverages the biology of lymphocyte development with chimeric
antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene engineering
to generate CAR-engineered invariant natural killer T (CAR-iNKT)
cell subtypes from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). For more
information, please visit www.appiabio.com.
Gilead and Kite Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors,
including the risk that Kite may not realize the anticipated
benefits of this collaboration with Appia Bio; difficulties or
unanticipated expenses in connection with the collaboration and the
potential effect on Kite's earnings; and the possibility that the
parties may make a strategic decision to terminate this
collaboration at any time. These and other risks, uncertainties and
other factors are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, as filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties
and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical fact are statements
that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Investors are
cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements
are based on information currently available to Kite and Gilead,
and Kite and Gilead assume no obligation and disclaim any intent to
update any such forward-looking statements.
Kite, the Kite logo and GILEAD are trademarks
of Gilead Sciences, Inc. or its related companies.
For more information on Kite, please visit the
company’s website at www.kitepharma.com or call Gilead Public
Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000. Follow Kite on social
media on Twitter (@KitePharma) and LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210805005628/en/
Gilead and Kite Contacts: Jacquie Ross, Investors (650)
358-1054
Mary Lynn Carver, Media (410) 443-1853
Appia Bio Contact: Kathy Vincent kathy@kathyvincent.com
(310) 403-8951
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