ImmunityBio's Chemotherapy-Free Combo Shows 100% Disease Control In Early Glioblastoma Trial, Plans Phase 2

Author: Benzinga Newsdesk | August 26, 2025 08:34am

• First chemotherapy-free trial combining ANKTIVA, an IL-15 agonist, natural killer (NK) cell therapy, and Optune immune-stimulating device for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors who have failed current standard of care
• Encouraging early results observed to date, including response in 3 of the subjects with 2 responders at near complete response and 2 with ongoing stable disease, representing 100 percent disease control 
• ANKTIVA treatment increased absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in all five patients who had experienced lymphopenia after standard of care radiation and chemotherapy
• Based on these early findings, ImmunityBio is initiating a randomized trial targeting second-line GBM patients who have recurring disease following standard of care
• Approximately 12,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with GBM, according to the American Brain Tumor Association, making it one of the most common types of brain tumor1
• GBM, which is typically diagnosed in older individuals, has the lowest five-year survival rate of any common brain tumor—just 9% for patients aged 45-54 and 6% for ages 55-64, according to the American Cancer Association2

ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ:IBRX), a leading immunotherapy company, today announced early findings from the first five recurrent glioblastoma patients treated with its investigational immune-boosting regimen including ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) in this pilot study (NCT06061809). All five patients achieved 100% disease control with the regimen that combines ANKTIVA, an IL-15 agonist being studied for its ability to enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity, NK cell therapy (PD-L1 t-haNK), and Optune Gio Tumor Treating Fields. Of the 5 patients treated to date, 3 responded of which 2 at near complete response and the remaining 2 having stable disease to date. This finding of 5 out of 5 (100%) disease control in 2nd line recurrent glioblastoma receiving a chemotherapy free immunotherapy with Optune immune stimulating device is highly encouraging.

We believe these early results of this combination immune-stimulating therapy are notable, given both the fact that GBM is a common form of brain tumor, as well as one that is exceptionally difficult to treat successfully with currently approved therapies. GBM has a single digit five-year survival rate for patients aged 45 and over. While the initial treatments in this trial involve a small cohort, the results are sufficiently encouraging for the company to plan a Phase 2 trial in second-line glioblastoma to further evaluate the potential for this combination treatment.

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