NantKwest
ImmunityBio, a NantWorks-affiliated biopharmaceutical company, develops NK cell-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, with FDA-approved ANKTIVA used with BCG for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and a broader clinical pipeline across multiple tumor types.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NantKwest does
ImmunityBio, Inc., operating under the legacy NantKwest trademark, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company within the NantWorks conglomerate that develops immunotherapy products for cancer and infectious diseases. The company's core technology is a Natural Killer (NK) cell platform built on the NK-92 cell line, encompassing four proprietary variants (haNK, taNK, ceNK, and the NK-92 line itself) combined with ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept), an IL-15 superagonist that stimulates NK cells, T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells to drive both innate and adaptive immune responses. ANKTIVA is FDA-approved for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in-situ, and a supplemental BLA for papillary disease carries a PDUFA date of January 6, 2027. The QUILT clinical framework coordinates combination regimens across bladder cancer (QUILT-3.032, QUILT-2.005), NSCLC (ResQ201A), and other indications.
The business model is anchored on commercializing ANKTIVA as a combination therapy with BCG for bladder cancer, supported by an exclusive U.S. supply agreement with Japan BCG Laboratory for the Tokyo-strain BCG. Revenue mechanics include direct physician and clinical-site distribution for approved indications, expanded access and clinical trial enrollment, and a cell licensing program for the NK cell platform targeting academic and industry researchers. The company serves healthcare providers, clinical trial investigators, and patient populations across bladder cancer, glioblastoma, Lynch syndrome, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, HIV, HPV, and lymphopenia. Globally, the company currently operates in the United States, with no disclosed non-U.S. commercial footprint. Ownership rests within the NantWorks ecosystem founded by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who serves as Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer.
NantKwest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NantKwest
- Legal name
- ImmunityBio, Inc.
- Website
- https://nantkwest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ImmunityBio, a NantWorks-affiliated biopharmaceutical company, develops NK cell-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, with FDA-approved ANKTIVA used with BCG for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and a broader clinical pipeline across multiple tumor types.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NantKwest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Immunotherapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- NK Cell Therapies (HLAAABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH), Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD), Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK)
Keywords
Where NantKwest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
NantKwest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
NantKwest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ImmunityBio (operating under the NantKwest trademark) develops and commercializes immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. Its lead product ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) is an IL-15 superagonist FDA-approved for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) carcinoma in-situ, combined with BCG. The company also advances investigational NK-cell platforms (haNK, taNK, ceNK, NK-92), QUILT combination clinical programs, and the Nant Cancer Vaccine candidates.
Product overview
ImmunityBio (operating under the NantKwest trademark) is a biopharmaceutical company developing immunotherapies through a platform approach. The core product is ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept), an IL-15 superagonist that activates both innate (NK cells) and adaptive (T cells) immune responses. This is combined with BCG (including an exclusive Tokyo-strain agreement) in their QUILT clinical programs for bladder cancer. The company also operates an investigational NK Cell Platform (haNK, taNK, ceNK) derived from the NK-92 cell line. The platform employs a 'triangle offense' strategy targeting multiple immune pathways to achieve durable responses in cancer and infectious diseases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ANKTIVA®: FDA-approved immunotherapy product (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) used with BCG for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
- Nant Cancer Vaccine
- NANT 001
- NANT XL
- QUILT
- haNK
- taNK
- ceNK
- NK-92
- VivaBioCell
- Infacell
Products and services
- ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) An IL-15 superagonist biologic that activates natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells to stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses; FDA-approved for use with BCG in BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) carcinoma in-situ, and intended for oncology and infectious disease indications.
- NK Cell Platform (haNK, taNK, ceNK, NK-92) A suite of investigational Natural Killer cell therapy agents — high-affinity (haNK), targeted (taNK), cord blood-derived (ceNK), and the parent NK-92 cell line — designed to enhance innate immune responses against cancer and being investigated across multiple tumor types.
- QUILT Clinical Program Platform Clinical trial platform combining ANKTIVA with BCG, checkpoint inhibitors, and other agents to evaluate sequential immunotherapy regimens across NMIBC, NSCLC, glioblastoma, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, and other indications.
- Cell Licensing (NK cell lines to researchers) Licensing of proprietary NK cell lines (haNK, taNK, ceNK, NK-92) to academic and industry researchers for use in independent immuno-oncology research programs.
- Tokyo-Strain BCG Supply (exclusive U.S. agreement with Japan BCG Laboratory) Exclusive U.S. supply of the Tokyo strain of BCG from Japan BCG Laboratory, used as part of ANKTIVA plus BCG combination therapy for bladder cancer to enhance BCG supply in the United States.
- Nant Cancer Vaccine (NANT 001, NANT XL) Cancer vaccine product candidates (including NANT 001 and NANT XL) under development by ImmunityBio as part of its immunotherapy pipeline targeting multiple cancer indications.
Quantifiable outcome
- FDA PDUFA date set for January 6, 2027 for ANKTIVA plus BCG in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with papillary disease
Companies that use NantKwest
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NantKwest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
NantKwest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Japan BCG LaboratorycoreImmunityBio signed an exclusive U.S. agreement with Japan BCG Laboratory for the Tokyo-strain of BCG to enhance BCG supply in the United States. This partnership addresses supply chain needs for their ANKTIVA plus BCG combination therapy for bladder cancer.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NantKwest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NantKwest social profiles
Digital presenceNantKwest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NantKwest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
NantKwest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NantKwest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NantKwest
What does NantKwest do?
ImmunityBio (operating under the NantKwest trademark) develops and commercializes immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. Its lead product ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept) is an IL-15 superagonist FDA-approved for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) carcinoma in-situ, combined with BCG. The company also advances investigational NK-cell platforms (haNK, taNK, ceNK, NK-92), QUILT combination clinical programs, and the Nant Cancer Vaccine candidates.
Is NantKwest a public or private company?
NantKwest is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was NantKwest founded?
NantKwest was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is NantKwest based?
NantKwest is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
Does NantKwest have an API?
No public API is recorded for NantKwest.
What industry is NantKwest in?
NantKwest's product category is Biopharmaceutical Immunotherapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAD, NK Cell Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAAAAH, Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.