ImmunityBio Expands Cancer Immunotherapy Access in Saudi Arabia and MENA Region
ImmunityBio establishes wholly owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia to distribute Anktiva for bladder and lung cancer across MENA region, following world's first lung cancer approval in the Kingdom less than a year after May 2025 meeting.
ImmunityBio has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia to support physicians and healthcare systems throughout the MENA region. The expansion follows the world's first approval for lung cancer in the Kingdom, received less than a year after a May 2025 meeting.
Distribution readiness of Anktiva for both bladder and lung cancer patients has been achieved since approval just one year ago. The regional expansion is strengthening access to advanced cancer therapies and supporting physicians and health systems across the Middle East and North Africa.
Current fully enrolled studies across multiple tumor types are demonstrating that Anktiva increases lymphocytes, with data bases locked to be submitted for expanded and accelerated approval in the region. Randomized trials are already in motion for BCG naive and first plus second line lung cancer at global sites.
Multiple new confirmatory indications designed to address lymphopenia will be opened in short order in the region. The indications range from addressing sepsis to colon cancer to liver cancer and lymphopenia.
ImmunityBio is advancing Immunotherapy 2.0 as the next generation cancer care, embracing the concept of the power of NK and T cells to drive memory T cells. By 2026, the company plans to grow trillions of natural killer cells from healthy donors and generate a "world bank of natural killer cells" which can be administered to any patient without donor matching.
The expansion reinforces Saudi Arabia's growing role as a regional hub for medical innovation and patient care in line with Vision 2030.