ImmunityBio presented ISPOR 2026 data showing ANKTIVA® plus BCG delivers lower healthcare costs per responder and per cystectomy avoided versus TAR‑200 in BCG‑unresponsive NMIBC CIS, supporting durable bladder‑preserving outcomes in Medicare patients.
Written By: Chikkula Pavan Kumar, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
ImmunityBio announced preliminary findings from a new health economic analysis presented at the 2026 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Annual Meeting, showing that ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept‑pmln) plus Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) demonstrated lower costs per sustained complete responder and per cystectomy avoided compared with TAR‑200 in patients with BCG‑unresponsive non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ (NMIBC CIS).
Study Design and Methodology
The analysis, presented by Ruchika Talwar, M.D., Medical Director and Assistant Professor of Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt Health, evaluated clinical and economic outcomes in a U.S. Medicare population. Data were drawn from the QUILT‑3.032 study for ANKTIVA plus BCG and the SunRISe‑1 trial for TAR‑200.
Researchers developed a multi‑state Markov cost‑consequence model incorporating major NMIBC health states, treatment acquisition and administration costs, healthcare resource utilization, radical cystectomy procedures, and mortality. Clinical comparisons were generated through a matched‑adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) methodology.
Key Findings
The preliminary analysis demonstrated consistent economic advantages for ANKTIVA plus BCG across multiple endpoints over three years:
- Cost per cystectomy avoided: Savings of $109,622 at Year 1, $151,438 at Year 2, and $60,393 at Year 3 compared with TAR‑200.
- Cost per cystectomy‑free month: Savings of $9,370 at Year 1, $6,144 at Year 2, and $1,520 at Year 3.
- Cost per complete responder (CR): Savings of $313,775 at Year 1 and $282,013 at Year 2 compared with TAR‑200.
Indirect treatment comparison reported CR rates of 49.6% for ANKTIVA plus BCG versus 45.9% for TAR‑200. Savings were primarily driven by reduced drug acquisition and administration costs, combined with higher durability of complete response.
Expert Commentary
ImmunityBio Executive Chairman Patrick Soon‑Shiong stated: “These findings reflect our goal of advancing immunotherapies that deliver durable patient benefit while remaining economically sustainable within healthcare systems.”
Dr. Talwar emphasized that treatment decisions in BCG‑unresponsive NMIBC should weigh not only response rates but also durability, patient quality of life, and long‑term sustainability.
Clinical Context
Non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer represents nearly 75% of newly diagnosed bladder cancer cases in the U.S. Patients whose disease becomes unresponsive to BCG face increased risks of recurrence and progression, while bladder‑preserving treatment options remain limited.
About ANKTIVA®
ANKTIVA® is a first‑in‑class interleukin‑15 (IL‑15) receptor agonist designed to activate natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. The therapy is approved in combination with BCG for adult patients with BCG‑unresponsive NMIBC CIS, with or without papillary tumors.
Safety Information
ANKTIVA® carries a warning regarding risk of progression to muscle‑invasive or metastatic bladder cancer if cystectomy is delayed in patients who fail to achieve a complete response after a second induction course. Patients should be closely monitored for disease progression, and cystectomy should not be delayed in non‑responders. The therapy is intended for intravesical use only and must not be administered subcutaneously or intravenously.
Reference
About the Writer
Chikkula Pavan Kumar (LinkedIn), PharmD is a Doctor of Pharmacy with a keen interest in clinical pharmacy, pharmacovigilance, and evidence-based practice. In his words, he is passionate about patient safety and translating complex medical information into clear, research-driven communication.