UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 7, 2014

Kite Pharma, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 824-9999

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

On October 7, 2014, Kite Pharma, Inc. (“Kite”) notified Crowe Horwath LLP (the “Former Accounting Firm”) they had been dismissed as its independent registered public accounting firm and engaged Ernst & Young LLP (the “New Accounting Firm”), as its new independent registered public accounting firm. Kite’s audit committee approved the change in independent accountants.

The audit reports of the Former Accounting Firm on Kite’s financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and through October 7, 2014, there were no (a) disagreements between Kite and the Former Accounting Firm on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the Former Accounting Firm, would have caused the Former Accounting Firm to make reference thereto in connection with its opinion on the financial statements for such years or (b) “reportable events,” as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

Kite provided the Former Accounting Firm with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and requested that the Former Accounting Firm furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated October 14, 2014, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

During Kite’s two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period prior to the engagement of the New Accounting Firm, Kite did not consult with the New Accounting Firm regarding (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; (b) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Kite’s financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to Kite or oral advice was provided that the New Accounting Firm concluded was an important factor considered by Kite in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (c) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or reportable event as defined in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v), respectively, of Regulation S-K with the Former Accounting Firm.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is filed as part of this Current Report:

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.