The Billion-Dollar 'Triangle Offense': 5 Breakthroughs In Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's T-Cell Therapy Revolution

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s vision for a universal cancer cure has taken a significant leap forward, with his company ImmunityBio, Inc. announcing critical regulatory and clinical milestones in late 2024 and throughout 2025. The core of this revolution is a unique, next-generation immunotherapy platform centered around boosting the body's own natural killer (NK) cells and T-cells, moving beyond the limitations of traditional, single-target therapies. This multi-pronged approach, often dubbed the "Triangle Offense," is demonstrating powerful and sustained results in challenging cancers like BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer and metastatic pancreatic cancer, solidifying Soon-Shiong’s position as a transformative figure in medical science.

The most recent and compelling data revolves around the combination therapy featuring ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), a key component designed to act as a "lymphocyte rescue molecule," restoring and proliferating the critical cancer-killing cells. As of December 2025, the therapy is at the forefront of the fight against bladder cancer, with ImmunityBio reporting unprecedented long-term survival rates and significant financial growth, signaling a major shift in the oncology landscape. The fresh updates indicate that the multi-billion-dollar effort to harness the full power of the immune system is finally translating into tangible patient outcomes and regulatory progress.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong: Biography and Medical Innovation Profile

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-born American surgeon, medical researcher, and entrepreneur widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in transplantation and oncology. He is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest individuals in Los Angeles and the world, leveraging his immense wealth and influence to fund large-scale, integrated healthcare and technology initiatives.

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• Full Name: Patrick Soon-Shiong
• Born: July 29, 1952 (Age 73 as of late 2025)
• Birth Place: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
• Education: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) from the University of Witwatersrand; Master of Science from the University of British Columbia.
• Current Roles: Executive Chairman, Global Chief Medical & Technology Officer at ImmunityBio, Inc.; Owner and Executive Chairman of the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune (via NantWorks).
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): Circa $12.0 - $21.2 Billion (Varies by source, reflecting significant holdings in public and private companies).
• Key Prior Innovations:
  • Abraxane: Invented and developed the revolutionary albumin-bound chemotherapy agent (nanoparticle technology) for metastatic breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer.
  • American Pharmaceutical Partners & Abraxis BioScience: Founded and sold these companies for billions, providing the capital for his subsequent ventures.
• Patents: Holds over 850 worldwide patents related to medicine and technology.

1. The ANKTIVA (N-803) Breakthrough: A 'Lymphocyte Rescue' Molecule

The cornerstone of Dr. Soon-Shiong’s T-cell therapy platform is ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), also known as N-803. This is not a traditional T-cell therapy like CAR-T, but rather an advanced cytokine fusion protein designed to revitalize the body's existing immune response.

Mechanism of Action: Rescuing Killer Cells

ANKTIVA works by binding to the IL-15 receptor complex, which is crucial for the survival, proliferation, and activation of Natural Killer (NK) cells and CD8⁺ "killer" T-cells.

• T-Cell and NK-Cell Proliferation: ANKTIVA is the first drug approved that specifically rescues and proliferates these key lymphocytes, which are often depleted or exhausted in cancer patients.
• The "Triangle Offense": Soon-Shiong describes his approach as a "Triangle Offense" involving three key components: the tumor cell, the NK cell, and the killer T-cell. ANKTIVA’s role is to restore the killer T-cell function and activate the NK cells to recognize and attack cancer cells that have lost their major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a common mechanism for tumors to evade the immune system.
• Broad Potential: By activating the entire immune system, the platform aims to overcome the limitations of single-target therapies, providing a more durable and comprehensive cancer control.

2. Unprecedented Success in Bladder Cancer (QUILT-3.032 Trial)

The most tangible and recent success for the ANKTIVA-based therapy is in the treatment of BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This is a highly aggressive form of cancer where the standard treatment (BCG) has failed, often leading to bladder removal (cystectomy).

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Regulatory and Clinical Milestones in 2025

ImmunityBio has reported remarkable, long-term data from the QUILT-3.032 clinical trial, demonstrating the therapy's potential to save patients from radical surgery.

• FDA Submissions: In early 2025, ImmunityBio submitted a Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the FDA for ANKTIVA in combination with BCG for this indication.
• Long-Term Survival: Data presented in 2025 showed that the combination of ANKTIVA with BCG demonstrated 96% survival from bladder cancer for up to 36 months in a significant portion of patients.
• Bladder Preservation: The therapy has shown unmatched long-term bladder preservation for 36 months in a substantial number of patients, offering a life-changing alternative to cystectomy.
• Financial Impact: Driven by strong demand and regulatory progress, ImmunityBio reported a massive 434% increase in product revenue from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025, signaling the commercial viability and patient adoption of the therapy.

3. Expanding the Scope: Pancreatic and Metastatic Cancers

While the bladder cancer indication is the closest to full FDA approval, Dr. Soon-Shiong’s broader vision is to apply the same T-cell and NK-cell activation platform to a wide range of solid tumors. The platform is designed to be a universal "Cancer Bioshield" protecting the cancer-killing cells from the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

• Pancreatic Cancer Trials: Early findings from trials involving recurrent pancreatic cancer, using a combination of N-803 and PD-L1 t-haNK (a type of T-cell-enhanced Natural Killer cell), have shown promising results.
• Disease Control: In August 2025, ImmunityBio announced early findings from a trial showing 100% disease control in the first five patients with third-line or greater metastatic pancreatic cancer, a disease notoriously difficult to treat.
• Global Expansion: The company is actively pursuing global regulatory applications, with clinical trial submissions for its ResQ201A regimen expected in the EU, UK, and Canada in 2025, indicating a concerted effort to bring the therapy to an international patient base.

Dr. Soon-Shiong and ImmunityBio are focused on addressing the fundamental cause of cancer: the collapse of the immune system. By restoring the levels of NK cells and CD8⁺ T-cells, the therapy aims to provide a durable, long-term solution that goes beyond temporary tumor shrinkage. The next few years, particularly as the sBLA for bladder cancer progresses, will be pivotal in determining the full impact of this ambitious T-cell and NK-cell "Triangle Offense" on the future of oncology.

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