## ImmunityBio's Updated Lymphoma Therapy Data Triggers Significant Market Rally

**ImmunityBio** [IBRX] experienced a dramatic stock market reaction following the announcement of updated clinical findings from its QUILT-106 trial, with shares jumping 39.8% on Friday and continuing to climb 9.4% during after-hours trading. The momentum reflects growing investor confidence in the company's innovative approach to treating Waldenström non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare and challenging blood cancer.

## The Clinical Breakthrough Behind the Market Movement

At the heart of ImmunityBio's stock surge lies compelling updated evidence from ongoing QUILT-106 research, which evaluates an off-the-shelf allogeneic CD19 CAR-NK cell therapy (CD19 t-haNK) combined with **Roche**'s Rituxan (rituximab) for patients with Waldenström NHL who have exhausted standard treatment options. The updated data demonstrates remarkable durability, with complete responses now sustained for up to 15 months and continuing, accompanied by 100% disease control maintained throughout the study period to date.

The CD19 t-haNK therapy represents an engineered natural killer cell approach, designed with a CD19-specific CAR to precisely target cancer cells while leveraging dual-pathway treatment through both CD19 and CD20 mechanisms. This combination strategy differentiates itself through a critical advantage: patients received the entire treatment regimen in outpatient settings without requiring chemotherapy-based lymphodepletion—a stark contrast to conventional CAR-T therapies that demand inpatient hospitalization and intensive conditioning.

## Updated Patient Data Reveals Treatment Efficacy

The updated QUILT-106 findings encompass four enrolled Waldenström NHL patients, all of whom remain in clinical disease control. Two patients have reached the critical milestone of long-term follow-up evaluation, continuing to demonstrate durable complete remission at seven and 15 months respectively, despite receiving no further treatment following their initial eight-dose course. Both patients presented with advanced baseline disease: one carried extensive multiple bone lesions, while the other exhibited approximately 95% bone marrow infiltration—yet both achieved complete remission after just four doses of CD19 t-haNK combined with Rituxan.

The treatment dosing regimen totaled eight administrations of CAR-NK therapy and six doses of Rituxan, delivered through two doses per cycle at 21-day intervals across four cycles, with response assessment conducted after two cycles. Notably, evaluable patients demonstrated rapid onset of complete remission, underscoring the therapy's potential for quick clinical impact.

## Addressing Unmet Medical Needs in Lymphoma Treatment

Waldenström NHL represents an area of significant unmet clinical need, particularly for patients experiencing relapse or developing resistance to existing therapies. The ability to achieve sustained disease control through an outpatient-compatible, chemotherapy-free approach positions this treatment strategy as potentially transformative for lymphoma management. The elimination of cytotoxic conditioning and hospitalization requirements addresses fundamental limitations of traditional cell therapies, suggesting CAR-NK technology may offer a more scalable and patient-friendly platform for future deployment.

These updated results have catalyzed plans for a follow-up study combining the NK-CAR with ImmunityBio's IL-15 superagonist Anktiva (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) alongside Roche's Rituxan to expand treatment applications in indolent lymphomas.

## Expanding Pipeline: BCG-Naïve NMIBC Program Advances

Beyond lymphoma developments, ImmunityBio announced updated progress in its BCG-naïve non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) program, with the randomized registrational QUILT-2.005 study surpassing internal enrollment expectations. More than 85% of the targeted patient population has been recruited, with completion projected for the second quarter of 2026 and FDA biologics license application submission targeted for year-end 2026.

An FDA-requested interim analysis revealed statistically significant improvements in complete response durability for Anktiva combined with BCG versus BCG monotherapy. At six months, 85% of combination-treated patients maintained complete response compared to 57% receiving BCG alone; at nine months, rates reached 84% versus 52% respectively. These updated findings suggest Anktiva may enhance BCG therapy's effectiveness in newly diagnosed NMIBC patients.

Anktiva, ImmunityBio's currently marketed therapeutic, received FDA approval in 2024 for combination use with BCG in treating adults with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer containing carcinoma in situ. The company's expanded access program for recombinant BCG continues progressing amid ongoing TICE BCG supply challenges, with regulatory consultation requested to establish recombinant BCG as an alternative source.

## Stock Performance and Market Context

ImmunityBio's six-month stock appreciation of 106% substantially outpaced broader biotech sector growth of 22.1%, reflecting market recognition of the company's clinical pipeline advancement. The combination of updated lymphoma efficacy data and NMIBC enrollment progress created compounded positive sentiment, driving Friday's significant rally.

The company currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating, while the broader biotech sector contains numerous investment opportunities across varying valuations and clinical stages. The updated clinical efficacy and regulatory progress positioning suggest ImmunityBio's therapeutic candidates are advancing toward potential commercialization milestones that could reshape treatment landscapes for both lymphoma and bladder cancer populations.