ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX) has begun a Phase 2, chemotherapy‑free, lymphodepletion‑free study of ResQ215B, an off‑the‑shelf CD19‑targeted natural‑killer (NK) cell therapy combined with the company’s IL‑15 superagonist ANKTIVA and rituximab, in patients with relapsed or refractory indolent B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, including Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
The outpatient trial will enroll patients who have received at least two prior lines of therapy and will evaluate safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of the NK‑cell product without the need for apheresis, individualized manufacturing, or inpatient hospitalization. The design mirrors the company’s earlier QUILT‑106 study, which demonstrated durable complete responses lasting 7 and 15 months and a favorable safety profile in 20 patients.
ResQ215B builds on the encouraging Phase 1 data: 20 patients treated in QUILT‑106 achieved complete responses that persisted for 7 to 15 months, and the combination with ANKTIVA was well tolerated, with no dose‑limiting toxicities reported. The Phase 2 study will test whether the same therapeutic window can be achieved in a larger, more diverse cohort and whether the addition of rituximab further enhances response rates.
Strategically, the trial expands ImmunityBio’s IL‑15 platform beyond its approved bladder‑cancer indication. ANKTIVA’s approval for BCG‑unresponsive non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer has already generated revenue, and the company now seeks to capture a new, sizable market in indolent B‑cell lymphoma, a field where current therapies often involve chemotherapy or stem‑cell transplantation and carry significant toxicity. A successful outcome could position ImmunityBio as a leader in chemotherapy‑free immunotherapies and open additional revenue streams.
Financially, ImmunityBio has posted 119 % revenue growth over the past three years, driven by its oncology pipeline, yet remains unprofitable. The company’s liquidity is strong, with a current ratio of 5.77, giving it the capacity to fund ongoing and future clinical programs. The Phase 2 launch signals continued investment in the IL‑15 platform and a commitment to expanding its product portfolio.
"The ResQ215B study represents a significant step toward a less toxic therapy for patients who have limited options," said Lennie Sender, Chief Medical Officer for Cell Therapy and Liquid Tumors at ImmunityBio. He added that the trial’s design—off‑the‑shelf NK cells combined with ANKTIVA and rituximab—could reduce manufacturing complexity and treatment burden.
Investors have welcomed the announcement, viewing it as a key milestone that could broaden ImmunityBio’s commercial reach and strengthen its competitive position in the rapidly evolving immunotherapy market.
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