Kite Pharma joins with Genentech to test KTE-C19 combination in NHL

US oncology biopharma specialist Kite Pharma (Nasdaq: KITE) has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Genentech, a subsidiary of Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), to evaluate the safety and efficacy of KTE-C19, in combination with atezolizumab (also known as MPDL3280A), in patients with refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Kite’s lead product KTE-C19 is an investigational immunotherapy in which a patient's T cells are genetically modified to express a CAR designed to target the antigen CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B cell lymphomas and leukemias.

Genentech’s atezolizumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to target and bind to a protein called PD-L1, which is expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells.  PD-L1 interacts with PD-1 and B7.1, both found on the surface of T cells, causing inhibition of T cells. Use of the two compounds in combination could provide a synergistic effect since inhibiting PD-L1 with atezolizumab may enhance and prolong the activity and proliferation of KTE-C19.