IBRX Stock Climbs: Founder Says AI Robot Built To Mass-Produce Cancer-Killing Immune Cells Ships This Month

• Founder Patrick Soon-Shiong said the company’s AI-powered immune cell manufacturing robot is already in production.
• The “world’s first” NK-cell manufacturing robot uses AI and machine learning to automate production.
• ImmunityBio said its ready-to-use CAR-NK therapy showed long-lasting complete responses in patients with Waldenstrom lymphoma.

Shares of ImmunityBio, Inc. (IBRX) rose about 1% overnight on Wednesday after founder Patrick Soon-Shiong said an AI-driven robot capable of manufacturing cancer-killing immune cells is already in production and scheduled for delivery this month.

IBRX stock had also jumped over 2% in Tuesday’s regular session, logging its fourth straight session of gains.  

ImmunityBio Expands AI Manufacturing

“The WORLD’S FIRST NK CELL MANUFACTURING ROBOT IN PRODUCTION! Machine learning at its best. AI-driven manufacturing. Delivery this month,” Soon-Shiong posted on X late Tuesday.

The announcement added fresh momentum to ImmunityBio’s broader push into automated immune-cell manufacturing and advanced cancer therapies, which the drugmaker is increasingly focusing on as it rolls out its approved immunotherapy drug, Anktiva, globally.

The AI-driven manufacturing system will mainly be used for ImmunityBio’s natural killer (NK) cell platform. NK cells are immune cells capable of naturally destroying cancer cells and are viewed as key building blocks of newer immune-based cancer treatments. Soon-Shiong has spent months outlining plans for a global “world bank of natural killer cells.” 

Earlier this year, he said ImmunityBio had already produced billions of NK cells and cryopreserved samples from over 60 healthy volunteers and cancer patients.

The manufacturing robot, internally known as “Leonardo,” can automate the large-scale production and engineering of NK cells using AI and machine learning. Soon-Shiong previously said the goal is to eventually manufacture trillions of NK cells that can be transformed into off-the-shelf CAR-NK therapies and distributed globally.

He has also mentioned plans to install automated NK-cell manufacturing systems at cancer centers worldwide to help decentralize cell-therapy production.

Immunotherapy 2.0 Vision Takes Shape

In ImmunityBio’s recent stockholder letter, Soon-Shiong said the company’s ready-to-use CAR-NK cell therapy showed long-lasting complete responses in patients with Waldenstrom lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. He also said it was the first CAR cell therapy in the patient group to achieve full disease control without requiring chemotherapy or immune-system suppression beforehand. 

The company also highlighted efforts to strengthen the immune systems of cancer patients through its “Immunotherapy 2.0” platform, which combines immune-boosting proteins, vaccines and cell-based therapies. 

On Tuesday, Soon-Shiong hinted at global expansion plans after announcing upcoming presentations comparing Anktiva with rival bladder-cancer treatments at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting next week.

ImmunityBio has rapidly expanded Anktiva's international presence over the past year. In its recent shareholder letter, the company said Anktiva has now secured approvals across the U.K., European Union and Saudi Arabia, while also receiving accelerated approval in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer from Saudi Arabia’s SFDA.

CEO Richard Adcock previously said that Anktiva had expanded from approvals in “zero countries” to more than 34 countries and territories since the company began building its commercialization strategy. The company’s manufacturing expansion has also gained momentum alongside progress at its Dunkirk, New York facility, which is expected to become a major production hub for Anktiva and future cell-therapy programs.

How Do Retail Traders Feel About IBRX?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for IBRX jumped to ‘bullish’ from ‘neutral’ levels over the past day amid a 235% surge in 24-hour message volumes. 

One user noted Soon-Shiong’s recent social media activity and said, “all signs point to he's ready to release the kraken!”

Another user flagged the robot production update and said, “This is actually insane.”

IBRX stock has surged 261% over the past year.  

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Read Next: VKTX Stock Slips Overnight: Investors Pin Hopes On Fresh Weight-Loss Data As Pfizer Joins Eli Lilly, Novo In GLP-1 War