ImmunityBio Shares Surge on Prospects of Saudi Biotech Partnership

ImmunityBio's stock opened the week with significant momentum, fueled by news of a high-level international collaboration that has sparked speculation regarding the company's expansion into Middle Eastern markets. A forthcoming summit with Saudi Arabian leadership is viewed as a potential catalyst for new strategic alliances.

The immediate cause for the positive market movement is the formal announcement of the inaugural U.S.-Saudi Biotech Alliance Summit. Scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in San Francisco, the event is being co-hosted by ImmunityBio and NantWorks. The attendee list is notable, featuring ImmunityBio's Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong alongside senior representatives from Saudi Arabia's Hevolution Foundation and its Ministry of Health.

Market observers interpret this gathering as a possible precursor to joint ventures, new financing avenues, or commercial expansion within the Gulf region. The summit's agenda will focus on key areas including accelerating cancer immunotherapies, implementing AI-driven manufacturing processes, and strengthening global health security supply chains. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which actively seeks to establish domestic biotech production capabilities.

Financial Context and Regulatory Progress

This current optimism builds upon recent regulatory achievements. In December 2025, the company received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its lead product, ANKTIVA®, as a treatment for bladder cancer. This milestone paves the way for potential marketing authorization across the European Union.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying ImmunityBio?

Despite this clinical progress, the company's financial position remains a point of focus for investors. For the third quarter of 2025, ImmunityBio reported a net loss of $67.3 million, even as revenue from ANKTIVA sales showed robust growth. As of the end of September, the firm held approximately $258 million in cash and equivalents. In this context, strategic partnerships that could provide non-dilutive capital or infrastructure support are gaining importance for the business's long-term sustainability.

Market Performance and Analyst Sentiment

Investor attention is now firmly fixed on tomorrow's summit. Concrete announcements concerning the construction of manufacturing facilities, licensing agreements, or direct capital investments from Saudi institutions could provide the next catalyst for the stock. Presentations from the event will be publicly streamed starting January 16, 2026.

The share price has recently stabilized above the $2.50 level. Market experts continue to rate the equity favorably overall, citing the ongoing commercial rollout of ANKTIVA as a primary growth driver for 2026. Whether the recent price action marks a sustainable trend reversal will likely become clearer in the coming trading sessions.