Kite Announces Updated Data From ZUMA-3 Study of KTE-X19 in Adult Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), announced updated results from ZUMA-3, a single-arm Phase 1/2 study evaluating KTE-X19 (formerly KTE-C19), an investigational CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy, in adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With a median follow-up of 15.1 months (range 3.7 – 28.6 months) following a single infusion of KTE-X19, 69 percent of evaluable patients (n=25/36) achieved complete tumor remission, defined as complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematological recovery (CRi). The rate of undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients who achieved complete tumor remission was 100 percent. Detailed results from this ongoing study were presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH; Abstract #897).

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“We are encouraged by the high number of patients who achieved complete leukemia remission following a single KTE-X19 infusion on this trial,” said William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, Executive Medical Director and Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “In relapsed and refractory ALL, where the majority of adult patients have poor response to treatment and short remissions and survival, these findings give optimism for improving outcomes and potentially showing clinical benefit for those affected by ALL.”

Adverse events were consistent with the known toxicities of CD19 CAR T treatment, including Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events in 23 percent (n=10/44) and 39 percent (n=17/44) of patients, respectively. The majority of these adverse events were resolved, with the exception of two patients who had ongoing neurological events at the time of death from other causes. Two patients died from adverse events deemed by the treating investigator to be related to KTE-X19.

“These updated results from ZUMA-3 provide continued support for the potential of our CD19-directed CAR T therapies in new types of cancers and reinforce our leadership in cell therapy,” said Alessandro Riva, MD, Executive Vice President, Oncology Therapeutics and Head, Cell Therapy, Gilead Sciences. “Based on these findings, we have initiated Phase 2 of the study evaluating KTE-X19 in a larger set of adult patients with ALL who are in need of new treatment options.”

KTE-X19 is an investigational agent that has not been approved for any uses. Efficacy and safety have not been established.

About ALL

ALL is an aggressive type of blood cancer which can also involve the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system and other organs.

About ZUMA-3

ZUMA-3 is an ongoing multicenter, registrational Phase 1/2 study in adult patients (≥18) with ALL whose disease is refractory to or has relapsed following standard chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of KTE-X19 in this patient population.

About Kite

Kite, a Gilead Company, is a biopharmaceutical company based in Santa Monica, California. Kite is engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor and T cell receptor engineered cell therapies. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California. For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

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 Kite’s ability to complete its Phase 2 clinical trial program evaluating KTE-X19 in the currently anticipated timeline or at all. In addition, there is the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials involving KTE-X19. Further, it is possible that Kite may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of KTE-X19, and as a result, this compound may never be successfully commercialized. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead and Kite, and Gilead and Kite assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

For more information on Kite, please visit the company’s website at  www.kitepharma.com . Learn more about Gilead at www.gilead.com , follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000

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