ImmunityBio announced a strategic partnership. The company joined hands with Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare. This collaboration supports the launch of ANKTIVA cancer therapy across Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the expansion will continue across the Middle East and North Africa region.
ANKTIVA represents a breakthrough in immunotherapy treatment. Therefore, the partnership aims to improve cancer treatment accessibility. In addition, it strengthens regional healthcare distribution networks. The ANKTIVA cancer therapy targets difficult-to-treat cancer types.
Under the agreement, Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare will manage commercialization. Additionally, they will support distribution across key MENA markets. Specifically, ANKTIVA will treat patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) carcinoma in situ. This includes cases with or without papillary disease. Furthermore, the therapy will support metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treatment. The treatment combines ANKTIVA with checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
ImmunityBio has also established a wholly owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, the company strengthens local operations. This move supports long-term commercialization and regional growth. Moreover, it improves collaboration with regional healthcare systems.
“We’re pleased to partner with two of the largest healthcare and distribution companies to launch to ANKTIVA to patients in Saudi Arabia and, across the broader Middle East and North Africa region,” said Richard Adcock, President and CEO of ImmunityBio. “Their combined world-class commercial infrastructure and proven track record in bringing innovative therapies to patients with serious diseases will help accelerate access to ANKTIVA and support our commitment to serving physicians and health systems throughout the region, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt.”
The MENA region faces growing cancer treatment challenges. Cancer cases continue increasing across many countries. Lung cancer remains highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, lung cancer ranks among the top cancers affecting men over 45. Meanwhile, bladder cancer shows high incidence rates in Lebanon. Similarly, Syria and Egypt report significant disease burden. Therefore, advanced treatments like ANKTIVA become highly important.
Healthcare Access and Treatment Expansion
“At Cigalah and Biopharma, our goal is to ensure that physicians and their patients have ready access to the most advanced therapies available for the most difficult-to-treat diseases like cancer,” said Tamer Eissa, General Manager, Biopharma. “That is exactly what ImmunityBio brings with ANKTIVA, and we are pleased to partner with them to help extend the lives of bladder and lung cancer patients in Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Middle Eastern countries we serve.”
In addition, regulatory support helped accelerate ANKTIVA adoption. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder and Executive Chairman of ImmunityBio, shared insights. He recently completed productive meetings with the Saudi FDA and the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) leadership. These discussions focused on expanding ANKTIVA treatment approvals.
“We have just returned from a highly productive trip to the Middle East and met with the leadership of Saudi FDA and the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) to advance the development of ANKTIVA for expanded patient and indication access to the Middle East,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio. “I am highly encouraged by the collaborative engagement of the leadership of the regulatory authorities in the region and their desire to interact with ImmunityBio to expand access of the BioShield platform across multiple tumor types for their citizens. The initial approval by Saudi FDA for ANKTIVA in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, in patients with checkpoint failures in lung cancer, has catalyzed the opportunity to build on Immunotherapy 2.0 across multiple tumor types with ANKTIVA as the backbone to NK cell therapy.”
Earlier, ANKTIVA received U.S. FDA approval in April 2024. The approval covered use with BCG therapy for NMIBC CIS treatment. Subsequently, UK regulators approved the therapy in July 2025. Moreover, the European Commission approved it in February 2026.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) also approved ANKTIVA in January 2026. Additionally, SFDA approved ANKTIVA combined with checkpoint inhibitors. This treatment targets metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
