Lion Biotechnologies Obtains Exclusive License From NIH to Develop and Commercialize TIL in Bladder, Lung, Breast and HPV-Associated Cancers

Lion Biotechnologies(Nasdaq: LBIO), a biotechnology company that is developing novel cancerimmunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), todayannounced that it has obtained an exclusive, worldwide license from theNational Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and commercialize TIL therapyin four additional tumor indications. Under the agreement, the NIH hasgranted Lion exclusive rights to certain patents to develop TIL in thetreatment of bladder, lung, breast and HPV-associated cancers, includingcervical and head and neck. The agreement was executed as an amendment to Lion's existing exclusivelicensing agreement with the NIH for the development and commercializationof TIL in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. As consideration for thelicense, Lion will make an upfront payment to the NIH, payable half within60 days of closing and the balance a year later. Additional milestonepayments, which will vary according to indication, will be based oncompletion of specific clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. Theagreement also calls for royalties to be payable to the NIH based onrevenues, and certain additional payments under different sublicensescenarios. "In addition to the efficacy previously reported in melanoma, we believethat TIL therapy has the potential to demonstrate significant clinicalbenefit in the treatment of many solid tumors," said Elma Hawkins, PhD,Lion's president and chief executive officer. "Having exclusivity in theseadditional indications will enable us to further our development efforts inother tumor types, with the goal of providing a new treatment option forpatients."