Kite Pharma reported the launch of a strategic partnership in Japan with Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd. for Kite's axicabtagene ciloleucel (approved USAN for KTE-C19) for the treatment for patients with refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). According to Kite, axicabtagene ciloleucel is its lead product candidate and is an investigational therapy in which a patient's T cells are engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to target the antigen CD19, a protein expressed on the cell surface of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias, and redirect the T cells to kill cancer cells. As part of the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will be responsible for development and commercialisation of axicabtagene ciloleucel in Japan. Kite will provide certain technical transfer services to Daiichi Sankyo. Under the terms of the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will make an upfront payment to Kite of USD 50 million, which will also be eligible to receive future payments totaling up to USD 200 million for development and commercial milestones as well as is entitled to receive sales royalties in the low to mid double digit range. In addition, Daiichi Sankyo has a certain period of time to license additional Kite product candidates for Japan including KITE-718, Kite's T cell receptor product candidate targeting MAGE-A3/A6 and certain other product candidates that proceed to a US investigational new drug application filing over the next three years.