SLS, IBRX Rise Overnight: Retail Bets On Big Pharma Buyouts As J&J Chases No. 1 Oncology Spot

• J&J said it aims to become the world’s No. 1 oncology company by 2030 with over $50 billion in sales.
• SLS traders are focused on the Regal Phase 3 AML trial, now at 78 of 80 events needed for final analysis.
• IBRX speculation centers on Anktiva’s FDA expansion review, with a Jan. 6, 2027, decision date.

Shares of Sellas Life Sciences (SLS) and ImmunityBio (IBRX) climbed overnight heading into Thursday as retail traders hunted for Big Pharma’s next oncology target after Johnson & Johnson doubled down on acquisitions and its goal of becoming the world’s No. 1 cancer-drug company.

In overnight trading, SLS shares rose 1%, while IBRX edged 0.3% higher.  

J&J Chases No.1 Oncology Spot

On J&J’s recent earnings call, CEO Joaquin Duato hyped up the drugmaker’s expected position in the oncology space: “We are on track to be the number one oncology company by 2030, with sales projected to exceed $50 billion.” Sentiment on Stocktwits turned “extremely bullish” from “bullish” levels a day ago amid an 180% jump in 24-hour message volume.

The company also highlighted its recent acquisition of Halda Therapeutics and planned purchase of Firefly Bio, which owns a platform targeting difficult-to-treat KRAS-driven solid tumors. CFO Joe Wolk said that acquisitions remain part of J&J’s growth strategy: “Acquisitions are an enabler of growth, but they are not a requirement to deliver on our near and long-term objectives.” 

J&J ended the quarter with $21 billion in cash and marketable securities. Its raised guidance does not include any impact from the pending Firefly deal. “Our financial strength allows us to continue investing in R&D while pursuing opportunities where our scientific and commercial capabilities can accelerate innovation and create differentiated value,” the company said.

SLS Traders Eye Big Pharma Deal As AML Trial Readout Nears

Retail interest in Sellas remains centered on the Phase 3 Regal trial of galinpepimut-S, or GPS, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The event-driven study has reached 78 of the 80 events required to trigger its final analysis, putting Sellas close to the most important clinical readout in its history.

Sellas has said the trial would be successful if GPS extends median overall survival to 12.6 months, compared with eight months under standard treatment. CEO Angelos Stergiou has called the slower-than-expected event accumulation encouraging, although the blinded trial must still be unblinded before its outcome is known. Currently, sentiment on Stocktwits for SLS is leaning ‘bearish,’ down from ‘neutral’ levels just a day ago amid ‘low’ message volumes.  

One trader said that positive Regal data could put SLS on Big Pharma’s buyout radar, arguing that “many Big Pharma companies want to buy” its immunotherapy platform. The user added that SLS009 could strengthen the deal package and claimed a buyout was “looming behind the corner,” with speculative valuations of $40 billion or more.

A second user called GPS the “absolute must-have” behind any potential Sellas deal, saying that a “multi-billion dollar bidding war” depends on successful Phase 3 validation. Investors have recently parsed amended executive change-of-control provisions, including lump-sum severance payments, bonuses, healthcare reimbursement, and accelerated equity vesting under qualifying terminations. 

J&J Bladder Cancer Push Puts IBRX In Focus 

ImmunityBio has drawn similar takeover speculation as it seeks to broaden Anktiva’s use in bladder cancer and expand internationally. In May, the FDA accepted ImmunityBio’s application to expand Anktiva plus BCG into patients with papillary-only bladder cancer whose disease no longer responds to standard BCG treatment. The agency set Jan. 6, 2027, as its target decision date. Stocktwits sentiment for IBRX is ‘bearish’ now amid ‘low’ chatter. 

One user said founder Patrick Soon-Shiong’s recent silence suggested “something huge” may be developing with a Big Pharma player. Another user speculated on merger talks covering Anktiva, Cancer BioShield and the company’s AI-powered NK-cell platform, potentially creating a “platform-level” deal. 

J&J is also aggressively expanding in bladder cancer, potentially making ImmunityBio either strategically interesting or a direct competitor. The company said its Inlexzo therapy is now being used in nearly one in three eligible patients, up from one in four in the prior quarter. New patient insertions rose approximately 75%, and sales more than doubled sequentially. J&J called bladder cancer an “extraordinary opportunity,” pointing to one million new and recurrent cases globally each year.

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

Read Next: Michael Burry Mocks Data Center 'Fantasy’ In ORCL, NVDA, AMZN — But Trump Sees ‘Big, Strong, Bold’ Money Machines