ImmunityBio Presents New Clinical and Comparative Data Across Lung and Bladder Cancer at ASCO 2026

Key Terms

non-small cell lung cancer medical

A broad category of lung tumors that grow from the cells lining the airways and make up the majority of lung cancer cases; it includes several subtypes that behave and respond to treatment differently, like different models of the same car family. It matters to investors because its large patient population and variety of treatment options — surgery, traditional chemo, targeted drugs and immunotherapies — create major markets where clinical trial results, drug approvals or changing treatment guidelines can quickly affect a company’s revenue and stock value.

non-muscle invasive bladder cancer medical

A form of bladder cancer that is confined to the inner lining of the bladder and has not grown into the deeper muscle layer; think of it like a stain on wallpaper rather than damage to the wall’s studs. It matters to investors because it has different treatment, monitoring and recurrence patterns than deeper cancers, driving demand for repeated outpatient procedures, local therapies and diagnostic tests that affect revenue, trial design and pricing dynamics in healthcare markets.

IL-15 receptor agonist medical

An IL-15 receptor agonist is a drug or biologic that turns on the same cell-surface switch used by the immune-signaling protein interleukin-15, boosting the activity and number of immune cells that seek and destroy infected or abnormal cells. For investors, these agents matter because they can improve the effectiveness of cancer and infectious disease treatments but also carry safety and regulatory risks that strongly affect clinical trial outcomes and commercial prospects.

checkpoint inhibitors medical

Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells by blocking certain proteins that normally keep immune responses in check. They act like brakes being released on the immune system, allowing it to target tumors more effectively. These medicines are important for investors because they represent a promising area of cancer treatment with growing research, development, and commercial potential.

Phase 3 medical

Phase 3 is the late-stage clinical testing step for a new drug or medical treatment, where the product is given to large groups of patients to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare it to standard care. Successful Phase 3 results are often the final scientific hurdle before regulators decide on approval and market launch—like passing a final exam before graduation—and can sharply change a company's valuation and future revenue prospects.

CIS medical

Cis is a descriptor from chemistry meaning two parts of a molecule sit on the same side of a bond or ring, like two passengers sitting on the same side of a seesaw. That arrangement can change a drug’s shape, how it behaves in the body, and whether regulators approve it or competitors can patent it. Investors watch “cis” versus “trans” forms because those small structural differences can affect safety, effectiveness, manufacturing and commercial value.

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Presentations highlight ANKTIVA®-based approaches in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), a commercial-stage immunotherapy company, today announced two poster presentations and one online publication at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29-June 2, 2026, in Chicago.

The presentations span two randomized Phase 3 trials in advanced NSCLC and a matched adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) in BCG unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and collectively evaluate ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), the company’s IL-15 receptor agonist immunotherapy designed to activate natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and memory T cells, across multiple solid tumor indications.

“ASCO provides an important opportunity to share emerging clinical and translational data that continue to deepen our understanding of how ANKTIVA-based immunotherapy may restore immune function and rescue or reinvigorate the response to checkpoint inhibitors,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio. “ANKTIVA is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy designed to stimulate NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and memory T cells, which are the very immune cells that are depleted in patients with lymphopenia and that are critical to mounting an effective anti-tumor response. Growing long-term survival data across bladder, lung and other solid tumors are beginning to put in focus a compelling hypothesis: that restoring immune competence and addressing lymphopenia may be as a fundamental to cancer care as targeting the tumor itself. These findings reinforce our conviction that the future of immunotherapy lies in activating and amplifying the immune system, not suppressing it.”

Presentation highlights include:

ASCO 2026 Annual Meeting Poster Presentations - Sunday, May 31st (9am-12pm)​

• Poster Title: Phase 3 trial ResQ201A of nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (NAI) plus tislelizumab and docetaxel vs. docetaxel monotherapy for advanced or metastatic NSCLC resistant to ICI therapy ​Poster Board: 455a​m Abstract: #TPS8671​ Presenter: Andreas Saltos (Affiliation: Moffitt)

• Poster Title: Efficacy outcomes in first line (1L) non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with maintenance of immune competence: QUILT‑2.023 randomized phase 3 study of IL‑15R agonist nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (NAI) with checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) ± chemotherapy Poster Board: 378​ Abstract: #8588​ Presenter: John Wrangle (Affiliation: MUSC)

Online Publication Only

• Abstract Title: A matched adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of NAI+BCG & pembrolizumab in patients with BCG unresponsive NMIBC with CIS ± papillary disease – Will be published on http://asco.org/abstracts at 5:00 PM EDT on May 21, 2026

About ANKTIVA^® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln)

The interleukin-15 (IL-15) cytokine plays a crucial role in the immune system by affecting the development, maintenance, and function of key immune cells—NK and CD8+ killer T cells—that are involved in killing cancer cells. By activating NK cells, ANKTIVA^® overcomes the tumor escape phase of clones resistant to T cells and restores memory T cell activity with resultant prolonged duration of complete response. ANKTIVA® is a first-in-class IL-15 receptor agonist IgG1 fusion complex, consisting of an IL-15 mutant (IL-15N72D) fused with an IL-15 receptor alpha, which binds with high affinity to IL-15 receptors on NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. This fusion complex of ANKTIVA^® mimics the natural biological properties of the membrane-bound IL-15 receptor alpha, delivering IL-15 by dendritic cells and driving the activation and proliferation of NK cells with the generation of memory killer T cells that have retained immune memory against these tumor clones.

About ImmunityBio

ImmunityBio, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on innovating, developing, and commercializing next-generation immunotherapies designed to activate the patient’s immune system and deliver durable protection against cancer and infectious diseases. Our approach harnesses both the adaptive and innate immune systems with the goal of restoring immune function and generating lasting immunological memory in patients. At the core of our strategy is the Cancer BioShield^™ platform, which is designed to stimulate critical lymphocytes, including natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, and memory T cells via our proprietary IL-15 receptor superagonist, ANKTIVA^® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept). Our Cancer BioShield platform is anchored by this antibody-cytokine fusion protein and is complemented by a portfolio that includes adenovirus-vectored vaccines, allogeneic (off-the-shelf) and autologous NK-cell therapies, and additional immunomodulators intended to promote immunogenic cell death and support durable immune responses while potentially reducing reliance on high-dose chemo-radiation therapy. For more information, visit ImmunityBio.com and connect with us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the clinical development of ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), the potential benefits of ANKTIVA-based immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), future regulatory submissions and approvals, commercialization plans and market potential, and the company's strategic vision for restoring immune competence in cancer patients. These forward-looking statements are based on ImmunityBio's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that clinical trials may not demonstrate adequate safety and efficacy to support regulatory approval or may be delayed or terminated; the risk that regulatory authorities may not approve ANKTIVA for additional indications or may impose restrictions on its use; the risk that the company may not successfully commercialize ANKTIVA or achieve market acceptance; competition from other therapies; manufacturing and supply chain risks; intellectual property risks; and the company's ability to obtain additional funding to support its operations.

More details about these and other risks that may impact ImmunityBio’s business are described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 23, 2026 as well as its Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 7, 2026, and in subsequent filings made by ImmunityBio with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

ImmunityBio cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ImmunityBio does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement or other information in this press release, except to the extent required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260601924208/en/

ImmunityBio Contacts:
Investors
Hemanth Ramaprakash, PhD, MBA
ImmunityBio, Inc.
+1 858-746-9289
Hemanth.Ramaprakash@ImmunityBio.com

Media
Sarah Singleton
ImmunityBio, Inc.
+1 415-290-8045
Sarah.Singleton@ImmunityBio.com

Source: ImmunityBio, Inc.