ImmunityBio Initiates Phase 1 Trial of CD19 t-haNK Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Key Insights

• ImmunityBio's stock surged following the launch of a Phase 1 trial (QUILT 106) in South Africa for CD19 t-haNK cell therapy targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• The trial will evaluate the novel therapy as a standalone treatment and in combination with rituximab, aiming to enroll up to 100 patients by early 2025.
• This initiative reflects ImmunityBio's strategy to use CAR-NK technology to address unmet needs in liquid tumors, with initial data expected by the second half of 2025.

ImmunityBio has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial (QUILT 106) in South Africa to evaluate its CD19-targeted t-haNK cell therapy for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The trial represents ImmunityBio's first natural killer cell-based trial in the region.

The QUILT 106 study aims to enroll up to 100 patients by early 2025 and will assess the safety and efficacy of the CD19 t-haNK cell therapy both as a monotherapy and in combination with rituximab. This approach seeks to address gaps where existing therapies have limitations, particularly in liquid tumors.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, executive chairman of ImmunityBio, highlighted the significance of the trial in addressing unmet medical needs in Sub-Saharan Africa. The trial could potentially set a precedent for future research and treatment accessibility in underserved areas.

By leveraging CAR-NK technology, ImmunityBio aims to generate critical data by the second half of 2025 that could reshape how non-Hodgkin lymphoma is treated. The company is positioning itself as a disruptor in the cancer therapy space.