Lion Biotechnologies Announces Agreement With WuXi AppTec to Increase TIL Manufacturing Capacity

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. LBIO, a biotechnology company that is developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), today announced that it has entered into a two-year agreement with WuXi AppTec, Inc. ("WuXi AppTec") to provide additional TIL manufacturing capacity. The additional manufacturing capability is expected to become available within the first six months of 2016 at WuXi AppTec's facility in Philadelphia.

"We are pleased to be expanding our cGMP manufacturing capacity with this new relationship with WuXi AppTec," said Elma Hawkins, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Lion Biotechnologies. "In conjunction with the capacity we already have available, this relationship with Wuxi AppTec will provide us greater flexibility in support of our development plans for 2016 and into the future."

"We look forward to working with Lion on this exciting approach to immuno-oncology therapy," said Felix Hsu, Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations for WuXi AppTec. "We believe that our fully integrated services and technology platform will be of great benefit to Lion, and we're delighted to help support their development efforts in this exciting field."

About Lion Biotechnologies

Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of cancer immunotherapy products for the treatment of various cancers. The company's lead product candidate is an adoptive cell therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for the treatment of patients with refractory metastatic melanoma, and is based on a clinical Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Cancer Institute. TIL therapy is also being evaluated in physician-sponsored clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center. For more information, please visit http://www.lionbio.com.

About WuXi AppTec

WuXi PharmaTech WX is a leading open-access R&D capability and technology platform company serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, with operations in China and the United States. As a research-driven and customer-focused company, WuXi PharmaTech provides pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies with a broad and integrated portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services throughout the drug and medical device R&D process. WuXi is also building a platform to provide clinical diagnostic services directly to physicians and their patients globally. WuXi PharmaTech's services are designed to help its global partners in shortening the cycle and lowering the cost of drug and medical device R&D. The operating subsidiaries of WuXi PharmaTech are known as WuXi AppTec.

Forward-Looking Statements for Lion Biotechnologies

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties described in the Company's most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K. Except as permitted by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.