Fact check: Patrick Soon Shiong has developed a treatment called Anktiva.

Verdict: verified — Trust Score 90/100

This post is verified as accurate. Patrick Soon-Shiong's company, ImmunityBio, developed Anktiva, which activates natural killer cells to fight cancer. It received U.S. FDA approval for bladder cancer in April 2024, and in January 2026, Saudi Arabia became the first country to approve it for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

verified verification card — Trust Score 90/100
Platform
instagram
Source author
mindset.therapy — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXXvlNAjpnY/?igsh=MTB0d3JkNGk5YjFuaA==
Verified on
April 21, 2026
Verification ID
bJX8SRUI6jxvR6GHhZZ_6w

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @mindset.therapy --- Caption/Description --- A new cancer treatment developed by Patrick Soon Shiong is gaining attention for how it works with the body instead of against it. The approach, called Anktiva, activates natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that identifies and destroys abnormal cells including cancer. Natural killer cell based therapies are part of a broader field called immunotherapy. Research shows these cells can detect and attack cancer without prior exposure, making them a powerful early defense. Anktiva is currently approved in the United States for a specific type of bladder cancer. In January 2026, Saudi Arabia became the first country in the world to approve it for lung cancer as well, going further than the U.S. FDA. Ongoing trials will determine its long term impact, but it reflects a growing shift toward treatments that support the body’s own immune system. #cancerresearch #immunotherapy #healthinnovation #medicalscience #awareness --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- PATRICK SOON SHIONG HAS DEVELOPED A TREATMENT THAT TURNS ON THE BODY’S NATURAL KILLER CELLS TO TARGET CANCER CELLS. IT IS APPROVED IN THE U.S., AND SAUDI ARABIA HAS NOW CLEARED IT FOR PUBLIC USE. Published: 2026-04-20T22:56:02.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @mindset.therapy --- Caption/Description --- A new cancer treatment developed by Patrick Soon Shiong is gaining attention for how it works with the body instead of against it. The approach, called Anktiva, activates natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that identifies and destroys abnormal cells including cancer. Natural killer cell based therapies are part of a broader field called immunotherapy. Research shows these cells can detect and attack cancer without prior exposure, making them a powerful early defense. Anktiva is currently approved in the United States for a specific type of bladder cancer. In January 2026, Saudi Arabia became the first c

Claims analyzed (4)

  1. verified: Patrick Soon Shiong has developed a treatment called Anktiva.
    Patrick Soon-Shiong is the founder and Executive Chairman of ImmunityBio, the company that developed Anktiva (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept).
  2. verified: Anktiva activates natural killer cells to target cancer cells.
    Anktiva is an IL-15 receptor superagonist designed to proliferate and activate natural killer (NK) cells and T cells to attack tumors.
  3. verified: Anktiva is approved in the U.S. for a specific type of bladder cancer.
    The FDA approved Anktiva on April 22, 2024, for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ.
  4. verified: In January 2026, Saudi Arabia became the first country to approve Anktiva for lung cancer.
    The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) granted accelerated approval for Anktiva in combination with checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer on January 14, 2026.

Sources consulted (10)

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