Kite and Epic Bio Announce Collaboration to Develop New Therapies for Cancer
- Kite and Epic Bio will collaborate to develop next-generation cancer cell therapies.
- Kite will gain access to Epic Bio's gene regulation platform to enhance CAR T-cell functionality.
- Epic Bio will receive upfront payment, milestone payments, and royalties on approved products.
- None.
- Kite will gain access to Epic Bio’s gene regulation platform to potentially develop next-generation cancer cell therapies -
SANTA MONICA &
“Cell-based cancer immunotherapies have reshaped modern cancer care, but we have still only scratched the surface of their potential benefit for patients. At Kite, we are committed to developing next generation CAR T-cell therapies with the goal of reaching more patients with cancer who could benefit,” said David Barrett, Vice President of Cell Biology and Translational Medicine at Kite. “We look forward to collaborating with Epic Bio with the goal of further advancing today’s cell therapies and potentially expanding their reach and impact on patients.”
“We are proud to partner with Kite to extend the potential application of Epic Bio’s platform for cancer treatment. Epic Bio’s approach is not only promising for in vivo medicines, but may also enable next-generation cell therapies to reach a wide range of patient populations,” said Amber Salzman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Epic Bio. “We look forward to applying our expertise in gene modulation to help advance CAR T-cell therapies.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Epic Bio will develop constructs for Kite-selected targets for use in CAR T-cell therapies directed to blood cancers. Kite will make an upfront payment to Epic Bio and Epic Bio will be eligible to receive performance-based development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. Epic Bio is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on any approved products that result from the collaboration.
The transaction with Epic Bio is expected to have a de minimis financial impact on Gilead’s 2023 GAAP and non-GAAP EPS.
About Epic Bio
Epic Bio is a leading epigenetic editing company, leveraging the power of CRISPR without cutting DNA. The company’s proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS) includes ultra-compact CRISPR components, enabling in vivo delivery via a single AAV vector. Epic’s lead program, EPI-321, is in IND-enabling studies for treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD); additional programs seek to address alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD), heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), and other indications. The company is financially backed by Horizons Ventures and other leading investors. Visit www.epic-bio.com for more information or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Kite
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company based in
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
Gilead 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 Gilead and Kite may not realize the anticipated benefits of the collaboration with Epic Bio; difficulties or unanticipated expenses in connection with the collaboration, including with respect to the development of next-generation cancer cell therapies using Epic Bio’s proprietary gene regulation platform, and the potential effect of any of the foregoing on Gilead and Kite’s earnings; the ability of the parties to initiate, progress and complete clinical trials in the anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials, including those involving any programs pursuant to the collaboration; the possibility that the parties may make a strategic decision to terminate this collaboration at any time; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. 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, 2023, as filed with the
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. Follow Kite on social media on X (@KitePharma) and LinkedIn.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231030344859/en/
Kite – Investors
Jacquie Ross
investor_relations@gilead.com
Kite – Media
Tracy Rossin
trossin@kitepharma.com
Epic – Investors
Shawn M. Cox
Manager, Investor Relations, and Corporate Communications
shawn.cox@epic-bio.com
Epic – Media
Lisa Raffensperger
lisa@tenbridgecommunications.com
(617) 903-8783
Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
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