CULVER CITY, Calif., June 1, 2026
ImmunityBio announced new clinical and comparative data from its ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) immunotherapy program at the ASCO 2026 Annual Meeting, highlighting the potential of its IL-15 receptor agonist across both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The company presented findings from two randomized Phase 3 NSCLC studies and an indirect comparative analysis in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, further expanding evidence supporting ANKTIVA’s role in restoring immune competence and enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. The presentations underscore ImmunityBio’s strategy of targeting immune dysfunction and lymphopenia, conditions commonly associated with poor cancer outcomes and resistance to immunotherapy.
Phase 3 Studies Explore ANKTIVA in Advanced Lung Cancer
One of the key presentations featured the ongoing ResQ201A Phase 3 trial, evaluating ANKTIVA combined with tislelizumab and docetaxel versus docetaxel alone in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose disease has become resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Another Phase 3 study, QUILT-2.023, is investigating ANKTIVA in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC. The trial is designed to determine whether maintaining immune competence through activation of critical immune cells can improve treatment outcomes. These studies reflect growing interest in combining immune-enhancing therapies with existing cancer treatments to overcome resistance mechanisms and improve long-term survival in difficult-to-treat lung cancer populations.
Comparative Analysis Supports Benefit in Bladder Cancer
In addition to lung cancer research, ImmunityBio reported an online publication featuring a matched adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) evaluating ANKTIVA plus BCG against pembrolizumab in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary disease. The analysis was designed to assess comparative efficacy in a patient population with limited treatment options and a high risk of disease progression. While detailed outcomes were not disclosed in the announcement, the inclusion of the analysis at ASCO highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to position ANKTIVA as a potentially important immunotherapy option in bladder cancer. ANKTIVA previously received FDA approval in combination with BCG for certain NMIBC patients, making continued evaluation of its clinical benefit an important area of research.
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ANKTIVA Designed to Restore Immune Function
ANKTIVA is a first-in-class IL-15 receptor agonist immunotherapy developed to activate natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and memory T cells, all of which play a critical role in anti-cancer immunity. Unlike therapies that suppress immune activity, ANKTIVA is designed to stimulate immune cell expansion and restore immune competence, particularly in patients experiencing lymphopenia. According to ImmunityBio, activation of these immune cell populations may help overcome tumor immune escape mechanisms, improve responses to checkpoint inhibitors, and generate durable immune memory against cancer. Company leadership emphasized that growing long-term survival data across multiple tumor types support the hypothesis that restoring immune function could become a foundational principle of cancer treatment alongside direct tumor targeting.
Expanding the Cancer BioShield Platform
The latest ASCO presentations further strengthen ImmunityBio’s broader Cancer BioShield™ platform, which integrates ANKTIVA with vaccines, natural killer cell therapies, and other immunomodulatory approaches designed to generate durable anti-cancer responses. By leveraging both the innate and adaptive immune systems, the company aims to create therapies capable of delivering long-lasting protection against cancer while potentially reducing dependence on intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. As clinical programs continue to expand across lung cancer, bladder cancer, and other solid tumors, ImmunityBio remains focused on advancing next-generation immunotherapies that harness the body’s natural immune defenses to improve patient outcomes.
Source: ImmunityBio press release
