ImmunityBio announced the issuance of five U.S. patents for the combination of its cancer treatment ANKTIVA® with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). [1, 4] The patents provide long-term U.S. market protection, with terms extending through at least 2035, covering the combination therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). [1, 5]
The announcement strengthens the company's intellectual property for a key commercial drug. [1] The news was received positively by the market, with ImmunityBio's stock (NASDAQ: IBRX) experiencing a significant increase in premarket and intraday trading on May 18, 2026. [1, 5] This development follows a recent exclusive agreement to enhance the U.S. supply of BCG, further securing the company's position in bladder cancer treatment. [1, 3]