Allo-CAR-NK Cell Therapy & Rituximab for Waldenstrom NHL – Long-Term Results

A pair of patients with WaldenstromS non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) remain in complete remission (CR) after 7 and 15 months following treatment with an off-the-shefl chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapy alongside rituximab, according to leaders from ImmunityBio, who on Friday shared an update from an ongoing trial.¹

The data, presented at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual Meeting, demonstrated durable complete responses in patients with Waldenström lymphoma treated with ImmunityBio’s autologous CAR-NK cell therapy, Anktiva.¹ The therapy utilizes natural killer (NK) cells engineered to target CD19, a protein found on the surface of lymphoma cells. Patients treated with Anktiva experienced complete responses that persisted beyond 1 year after treatment cessation, even in those who had exhausted other treatment options.¹

These findings support the use of time-limited regimens that spare patients toxicity and achieve savings for health systems.³

“This updated follow-up reinforces the central thesis that restoring and activating the immune system can deliver durable control of disease without chemotherapy or lymphodepletion,” Patrick Soon‑Shiong,MD,ImmunityBio’s founder,executive chairman,and global chief medical and scientific officer said in a statement. “Seeing complete responses persist beyond a year after treatment has stopped, in patients who had exhausted available options, represents a meaningful advance for patients with this rare disease of Waldenström lymphoma and validates CAR-NK as a potential next-generation immunotherapy platform.”¹

ImmunityBio reports Durable Complete Response in Cancer Trial

ImmunityBio, Inc. announced on January 16,2026,that a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) achieved a durable complete response lasting at least 15 months following treatment with the company’s immunotherapy,anktiva,combined with pembrolizumab. This represents a notable milestone in the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the combination therapy.

Anktiva and Pembrolizumab Combination

Anktiva is ImmunityBio’s lead clinical candidate, a novel H-2L-restricted T cell activating immunotherapy. Pembrolizumab is a PD-1 blocking antibody marketed by Merck & Co., Inc. under the brand name keytruda. The combination aims to enhance the body’s immune response against cancer cells by concurrently activating T cells and blocking the PD-1 pathway, which can suppress immune activity.

according to ImmunityBio’s press release, the patient, who had progressed on prior therapies including chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 therapy, experienced a complete response after receiving the Anktiva and pembrolizumab combination. The response has been maintained for at least 15 months as of the data cutoff date,demonstrating the potential for long-term benefit.

Phase 1/2 Trial Details

The Phase 1/2 trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Anktiva and pembrolizumab combination in patients with advanced solid tumors, including NSCLC. The trial is ongoing and enrolling patients at multiple sites. The initial data presented focused on patients with NSCLC who had failed prior lines of therapy.As of January 16, 2026, approximately 30 patients had been treated with the combination, with preliminary results indicating encouraging anti-tumor activity.

The trial’s primary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR). Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).ImmunityBio plans to present further data from the trial at upcoming scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.

Company Statements and Future Plans

“we are very encouraged by this durable complete response observed in a heavily pre-treated patient with metastatic NSCLC,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific Officer of ImmunityBio. “These early results support the potential of Anktiva in combination with pembrolizumab to provide meaningful clinical benefit to patients with advanced cancer.”

immunitybio intends to continue evaluating the Anktiva and pembrolizumab combination in NSCLC and other solid tumor types. the company is also exploring the potential of Anktiva in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies. further details on the trial can be found on ImmunityBio’s investor relations website: https://ir.immunitybio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/immunitybio-announces-durable-complete-response-15-months.