IBRX Stock Poised for Breakout Quarter: Anktiva Launches Phase 2 Long COVID Trial Amid European Expansion Plans
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 30 2026
0mins
Source: stocktwits
Phase 2 Long COVID Study Launch: The company has initiated a Phase 2 study to assess the effectiveness of Anktiva in improving recovery from long COVID by restoring immune cells, with plans to enroll about 20 participants and complete the study by October.
Expansion Beyond Cancer: Anktiva's platform has expanded its applications beyond cancer treatments to include severe pneumonia, sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, indicating a broader potential for immune activation therapies.
Stock Performance and Market Sentiment: Shares of ImmunityBio (IBRX) have surged over 270% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P Biotech ETF, reflecting positive market sentiment and renewed interest in the company's therapies.
Regulatory Progress and Future Plans: The therapy has been added to approved drug lists for bladder cancer and is being positioned as a recommended option for patients who do not respond to standard therapies, with ongoing efforts to expand its use in various diseases.
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Analyst Views on IBRX
Wall Street analysts forecast IBRX stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 6.720
Low
5.00
Averages
7.33
High
9.00
Current: 6.720
Low
5.00
Averages
7.33
High
9.00
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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- Strong Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high on Tuesday, propelling U.S. stock futures higher, with Nasdaq futures up 0.9%, reflecting optimistic sentiment towards the Fed's policy and potentially boosting investor confidence.
- Stock Movements: SpaceX shares surged approximately 50% from the $135 IPO price, briefly surpassing Microsoft and Amazon in market capitalization, highlighting strong market interest in emerging tech companies and their growth potential.
- Economic Data Watch: Investors are tracking retail sales data set to be released at 8:30 AM ET and the Fed's policy statement at 2:00 PM ET, with expectations that these figures will significantly impact market sentiment and investment decisions.
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- Cava's Investment Outlook: Cava is highlighted as the most promising stock among new concepts, with Jim Cramer noting its tasty, healthy, and fun attributes that appeal to a broad consumer base, likely driving its stock price higher.
- Speculative Opportunity in Immunitybio: Cramer recommends Immunitybio as a sole speculative investment, emphasizing the strategy of focusing on a single position in the market, which could yield high returns for investors.
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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.
- 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
