Kite Pharma enters into licensing agreement with NIH

Kite Pharma, a biotech company, has entered into a licensing agreement with the US’s National Institute of Health (NIH) that will give it the IP rights to T-cell therapies developed to treat cancer.

In partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a department of the NIH, Kite Pharma will develop T-cell-based receptor (TCR) products designed to treat the antigen NY-ESO-1.

Under the cooperative research and development agreement, Kite Pharma will be given the rights to develop and commercialise the TCR products from the clinical trials.

The NCI is conducting phase two of a trial that targets the NY-ESO-1 antigen, which is found in different types of cancerous tumours including sarcoma and those found in the bladder.

The agreement will see the biotech company make regular payments to the NIH, as well as pay royalties to use some of the IP protecting the T-cell therapies.