ImmunityBio Presents ANKTIVA® Research at ASCO Meeting
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 01 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
ImmunityBio's stock fell 5.35% as it crossed below the 5-day SMA amid a broader market decline, with the Nasdaq-100 down 4.77% and the S&P 500 down 2.74%.
The company showcased its ANKTIVA® research at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, presenting two Phase 3 trials focused on advanced non-small cell lung cancer and BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Founder Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong highlighted ANKTIVA® as the first FDA-approved immunotherapy designed to stimulate NK and T cells, potentially enhancing anti-tumor responses. The presentation included a schedule for publishing an online abstract detailing a matched adjusted indirect comparison of ANKTIVA® combined with BCG and pembrolizumab.
This presentation at a major oncology conference underscores ImmunityBio's commitment to advancing cancer treatment, although the stock's decline reflects broader market challenges.
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Wall Street analysts forecast IBRX stock price to rise
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Low
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Averages
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About IBRX
Immunitybio, Inc. is a vertically integrated, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies and vaccines that bolster the natural immune system to defeat cancers and infectious diseases. Using its applied science and platforms to treat cancers, including the development of potential cancer vaccines, as well as developing immunotherapies and cell therapies to reduce or eliminate the need for standard high-dose chemotherapy. Its platforms and their associated product candidates are designed to attack cancer and infectious pathogens by activating both the innate immune system, including NK cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, as well as the adaptive immune system comprising B and T cells, in an orchestrated manner. Its platforms for the development of biologic product candidates include antibody-cytokine fusion proteins, vaccine vectors, and cell therapies. Its biologic commercial product candidate, Anktiva, is an IL-15 superagonist antibody-cytokine fusion protein.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Drug Development Platform: The TriKE® platform developed by GT Biopharma aims to enhance the immune system's ability to target tumors by linking natural killer cells to specific cancer targets, demonstrating potential across various disease targets, particularly in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
- Clinical Trial Design: The clinical trial for GTB-3650 involves approximately 14 patients and employs a dose-escalation approach, with doses ranging from 1.25 µg/kg/day to 100 µg/kg/day, aimed at evaluating its efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
- Valuation Gap: Despite significant clinical advancements, GT Biopharma's market valuation remains relatively low, creating a mismatch that attracts speculative interest; if any of its programs succeed, it could lead to substantial stock price appreciation.
See More
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- Clinical Trial Progress: GT Biopharma has advanced three TriKE® candidates into clinical stages, with GTB-5550's first patient dosing on May 14, 2026, marking the company's expansion from blood cancers to the broader solid tumor market, indicating its potential in tumor immunotherapy.
- Drug Development Platform: GT Biopharma's TriKE® platform aims to enhance immune responses by linking natural killer cells to specific cancer targets, with current clinical projects including GTB-3650 for acute myeloid leukemia and GTB-5550 targeting B7-H3-marked solid tumors, showcasing a diversified treatment strategy.
- Valuation Gap: Despite advancing three candidates into clinical trials, GT Biopharma's market valuation remains below many peers, reflecting a tension between funding and clinical progress that attracts speculative interest; if any program succeeds, it could significantly enhance the company's value.
- Trial Design: The GTB-5550 trial employs a basket trial design, allowing patients with multiple tumor types to enroll under one protocol, which is an efficient approach for the company to quickly gather early signals and assess responses across different cancers while managing limited resources.
See More
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- NeOnc Technologies Progress: NeOnc Technologies is focused on developing therapies for central nervous system cancers, including NEO100 and NEO212, aimed at addressing significant unmet needs in neuro-oncology, attracting Wall Street attention and strong ratings from analysts.
- Investor Confidence: NeOnc's CEO has purchased over $500,000 in shares recently, with cumulative insider purchases approaching $1 million over the past year, demonstrating strong confidence in the company's future development.
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- Clinical Trial Highlights: ImmunityBio presented two randomized Phase 3 trials at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting focusing on advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), showcasing ANKTIVA® as an IL-15 receptor agonist that activates natural killer and T cells, potentially offering new hope in cancer treatment.
- Restoring Immune Function: Founder Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong emphasized that ANKTIVA® is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy designed to stimulate NK and T cells, which may enhance anti-tumor responses by restoring immune competence, highlighting the critical importance of immune system activation.
- Data Publication Schedule: During the ASCO meeting, ImmunityBio will publish an online abstract on May 21, 2026, at 5 PM EDT, detailing a matched adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of ANKTIVA® combined with BCG and pembrolizumab in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, further validating its clinical efficacy.
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See More
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- Significant Clinical Progress: GT Biopharma has advanced three TriKE candidates into clinical trials, with GTB-3650 targeting treatment-resistant blood cancers, and a critical data update expected in the second half of 2026, which could influence the company's future trajectory.
- Innovative Therapeutic Platform: The company holds exclusive rights to the TriKE platform designed to activate natural killer cells to directly attack tumors, leveraging technology from the University of Minnesota, showcasing immense potential in the tumor immunotherapy space that could transform existing treatment paradigms.
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See More
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- Market Valuation: As of May 2026, GT Biopharma's market capitalization stands at approximately $13 million, indicating significant undervaluation by the market despite having three drug candidates in human trials, suggesting a potential investment opportunity.
- Clinical Progress: The lead candidate GTB-3650, targeting treatment-resistant blood cancers, has completed patient enrollment across four dose cohorts, with early safety assessments showing no dose-limiting toxicities, and a meaningful data update is expected in the second half of 2026.
- New Drug Development: The first patient for GTB-5550 was dosed in May 2026, targeting the B7-H3 protein across multiple solid tumors, indicating a market potential significantly larger than that of the blood cancer drug, and it utilizes subcutaneous dosing for improved patient convenience.
- Market Outlook: The global oncology market is projected to grow from approximately $139 billion in 2025 to about $268 billion by 2034, positioning GT Biopharma's technology platform to potentially capture a significant share of this expansive market if successful.
See More
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- Clinical Trial Progress: GT Biopharma has advanced three TriKE® candidates into clinical trials, with GTB-5550's first patient dosing on May 14, 2026, marking the company's expansion from blood cancers to the broader solid tumor market, despite its market capitalization remaining below many peers.
- Drug Development Platform: The TriKE® platform developed by GT Biopharma aims to enhance the immune system's ability to target tumors by linking natural killer cells to specific cancer targets, demonstrating potential across various disease targets, particularly in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
- Clinical Trial Design: The clinical trial for GTB-3650 involves approximately 14 patients and employs a dose-escalation approach, with doses ranging from 1.25 µg/kg/day to 100 µg/kg/day, aimed at evaluating its efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
- Valuation Gap: Despite significant clinical advancements, GT Biopharma's market valuation remains relatively low, creating a mismatch that attracts speculative interest; if any of its programs succeed, it could lead to substantial stock price appreciation.
See More
GT Biopharma Advances Three Cancer Drug Candidates into Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trial Progress: GT Biopharma has advanced three TriKE® candidates into clinical stages, with GTB-5550's first patient dosing on May 14, 2026, marking the company's expansion from blood cancers to the broader solid tumor market, indicating its potential in tumor immunotherapy.
- Drug Development Platform: GT Biopharma's TriKE® platform aims to enhance immune responses by linking natural killer cells to specific cancer targets, with current clinical projects including GTB-3650 for acute myeloid leukemia and GTB-5550 targeting B7-H3-marked solid tumors, showcasing a diversified treatment strategy.
- Valuation Gap: Despite advancing three candidates into clinical trials, GT Biopharma's market valuation remains below many peers, reflecting a tension between funding and clinical progress that attracts speculative interest; if any program succeeds, it could significantly enhance the company's value.
- Trial Design: The GTB-5550 trial employs a basket trial design, allowing patients with multiple tumor types to enroll under one protocol, which is an efficient approach for the company to quickly gather early signals and assess responses across different cancers while managing limited resources.
See More
Challenges and Opportunities in Neuro-Oncology
- Treatment Challenges: Despite significant advancements in cancer treatment over the past two decades, glioblastoma remains one of the deadliest cancers, with patients facing limited treatment options and poor long-term survival rates, highlighting a substantial unmet need in the field.
- NeOnc Technologies Progress: NeOnc Technologies is focused on developing therapies for central nervous system cancers, including NEO100 and NEO212, aimed at addressing significant unmet needs in neuro-oncology, attracting Wall Street attention and strong ratings from analysts.
- Investor Confidence: NeOnc's CEO has purchased over $500,000 in shares recently, with cumulative insider purchases approaching $1 million over the past year, demonstrating strong confidence in the company's future development.
- Industry Trends: As interest in novel drug delivery mechanisms grows, companies like Kazia Therapeutics and BioNTech are actively exploring treatment options for glioblastoma, indicating a rising investment and research momentum in this area.
See More
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- Clinical Trial Highlights: ImmunityBio presented two randomized Phase 3 trials at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting focusing on advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), showcasing ANKTIVA® as an IL-15 receptor agonist that activates natural killer and T cells, potentially offering new hope in cancer treatment.
- Restoring Immune Function: Founder Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong emphasized that ANKTIVA® is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy designed to stimulate NK and T cells, which may enhance anti-tumor responses by restoring immune competence, highlighting the critical importance of immune system activation.
- Data Publication Schedule: During the ASCO meeting, ImmunityBio will publish an online abstract on May 21, 2026, at 5 PM EDT, detailing a matched adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of ANKTIVA® combined with BCG and pembrolizumab in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, further validating its clinical efficacy.
- Strategic Vision: ImmunityBio aims to activate the immune system through its Cancer BioShield™ platform, integrating ANKTIVA® with other immunotherapies to provide durable cancer protection, reflecting the company's forward-looking strategic positioning in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
See More
GT Biopharma: Three Drugs Enter Human Trials
- Market Valuation Struggles: As of mid-May 2026, GT Biopharma's market cap stood at approximately $13 million, indicating a significant undervaluation of this clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, prompting investors to consider potential value recovery.
- Significant Clinical Progress: GT Biopharma has advanced three TriKE candidates into clinical trials, with GTB-3650 targeting treatment-resistant blood cancers, and a critical data update expected in the second half of 2026, which could influence the company's future trajectory.
- Innovative Therapeutic Platform: The company holds exclusive rights to the TriKE platform designed to activate natural killer cells to directly attack tumors, leveraging technology from the University of Minnesota, showcasing immense potential in the tumor immunotherapy space that could transform existing treatment paradigms.
- Enormous Market Opportunity: The global oncology market is projected to grow from $139 billion in 2025 to $268 billion by 2034, and if GT Biopharma's product line succeeds, it could secure a significant position in this vast market, leading to substantial commercial returns.
See More
GT Biopharma Advances Three Drug Candidates in Clinical Trials
- Market Valuation: As of May 2026, GT Biopharma's market capitalization stands at approximately $13 million, indicating significant undervaluation by the market despite having three drug candidates in human trials, suggesting a potential investment opportunity.
- Clinical Progress: The lead candidate GTB-3650, targeting treatment-resistant blood cancers, has completed patient enrollment across four dose cohorts, with early safety assessments showing no dose-limiting toxicities, and a meaningful data update is expected in the second half of 2026.
- New Drug Development: The first patient for GTB-5550 was dosed in May 2026, targeting the B7-H3 protein across multiple solid tumors, indicating a market potential significantly larger than that of the blood cancer drug, and it utilizes subcutaneous dosing for improved patient convenience.
- Market Outlook: The global oncology market is projected to grow from approximately $139 billion in 2025 to about $268 billion by 2034, positioning GT Biopharma's technology platform to potentially capture a significant share of this expansive market if successful.
See More
