Lion Biotechnologies Announces First Patient Dosed

SAN CARLOS, CA --(Marketwired - June 01, 2017) - Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ : LBIO ), a biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology, today announced that the first patient was dosed in its Phase 2 trial of LN-145 for the treatment of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

"We are pleased to have dosed our first patient in this trial evaluating LN-145 for the treatment of head and neck cancer. While some patients benefit from the few options available for the treatment of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, there remains an unmet medical need for those who progress through such therapies," said Dr. Maria Fardis, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Lion Biotechnologies. "With this important milestone, patient dosing is now ongoing in two of our three Lion sponsored Phase 2 programs. We look forward to reporting data from these trials."

LN-145 is an adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy that utilizes an autologous TIL manufacturing process as originally developed by the National Cancer Institute. This Phase 2, multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional study will enroll up to 47 patients and will assess the safety and efficacy of LN-145 for the treatment of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The cell transfer therapy used in this study involves patients receiving a non-myeloablative (NMA) lymphocyte depleting preparative regimen, followed by infusion of autologous TIL followed by the administration of a regimen of IL-2.

Additional information on this study is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov .

About Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. 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 lymphocyte (TIL) technology being investigated for the treatment of patients with refractory metastatic melanoma, recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and metastatic cervical carcinoma. For more information, please visit http://www.lionbio.com .

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding, among other things, the Company's clinical plans. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections. A further list and description of Lion Biotechnologies risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov or www.lionbio.com . Any forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.