ImmunityBio Advances Pipeline with Novel Lymphoma Trial

ImmunityBio has initiated a new clinical study, marking a strategic expansion of its development pipeline. The U.S. biotechnology firm announced the launch of a Phase 2 trial evaluating an experimental cell therapy combination for a specific group of lymphoma patients, notably without the use of chemotherapy. This move tests whether the company’s therapeutic platform can succeed beyond its established bladder cancer indication.

A Triple-Combination Approach Without Chemotherapy

On February 2, 2026, ImmunityBio publicly disclosed the commencement of its ResQ215B study. The trial will enroll patients diagnosed with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL), a category of slow-growing lymphatic cancers.

The investigational regimen is a three-part combination therapy:

• CD19 t-haNK: An off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapy designed to target the CD19 surface protein on cancer cells.
• ANKTIVA: An immune stimulator (IL-15 superagonist) already approved by the FDA for a form of bladder cancer.
• Rituximab: A well-established anti-CD20 antibody.

A pivotal distinction from conventional CAR-T therapies is the absence of prior lymphodepletion. This typically involves aggressive chemotherapy to suppress a patient’s immune system and make space for the new therapeutic cells. By forgoing this step, the treatment can be administered in an outpatient setting on a 21-day cycle schedule.

Building on Promising Early-Stage Results

The newly launched Phase 2 investigation is grounded in data from an earlier, smaller Phase 1 study known as QUILT-106. That initial trial tested the CAR-NK therapy alongside Rituximab but did not include ANKTIVA.

In a cohort of four patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia—a specific subtype of lymphoma—all four achieved disease control. Furthermore, two of those patients demonstrated sustained complete remissions at seven and fifteen months, respectively.

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According to the company, the treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe immune-related side effects reported. These encouraging early results provided the rationale for advancing to the current Phase 2 study featuring the enhanced triple-combination.

Strategic Expansion Beyond Core Market

ANKTIVA received regulatory approval for a specific bladder cancer indication in April 2024. The drug generated approximately $113 million in preliminary revenue for ImmunityBio in 2025, representing a staggering 700 percent increase year-over-year. The new lymphoma trial illustrates the company’s strategic effort to broaden its commercial reach into additional disease areas.

Concurrently, ImmunityBio is also working to expand within its core bladder cancer segment. In January, the company reported that patient recruitment for a study involving BCG-naïve patients was more than 85 percent complete. A regulatory submission for this potential new use is anticipated by the end of 2026.

Upcoming Catalysts and Timeline

The coming months will feature several key data presentations. ImmunityBio is scheduled to present at the ASCO GU conference in San Francisco in late February, followed by an appearance at the AUA meeting in Washington in May.

While these near-term events will provide updates, meaningful results from the ResQ215B lymphoma study will require more time. The central question for investors and clinicians remains whether this chemotherapy-free treatment concept will prove effective for managing lymphoma.