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The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2021. The combined company will assume the ImmunityBio name and continue to be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol 'IBRX'.

Dr. Soon-Shiong said, “We are developing next-generation immunotherapies to defeat cancer and infectious disease. By combining ImmunityBio’s immunotherapy platform, which includes the Anktiva IL-15 superagonist, with NantKwest’s natural killer cell platform, the merged entity will have a powerful and broad product portfolio that can activate both the innate (natural killer cell and macrophage) and adaptive (T cell) immune systems to create long-term immunological memory. What distinguishes the merged entity is the late stage immunotherapy product pipeline that is designed to eliminate the need for high-dose chemotherapy, improve the outcomes of current CAR T cell therapies, and extend beyond checkpoint inhibitors. With 13 clinical trials across multiple tumor types at Phase I to III and with the combined talent in research, clinical development and manufacturing, the merged entity is poised to be a leader in the immunotherapy space.

ImmunityBio and NantKwest to Merge, Creating a Leading Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Company Merged entity brings together 11 Phase II / III clinical trials across oncology and infectious disease that use combined immunotherapy platforms Broad late-stage pipeline for solid tumors including bladder, lung, breast, and pancreatic in addition to infectious disease programs for HIV and COVID-19 Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong to serve as Executive Chairman, Richard Adcock will be CEO ImmunityBio also today announced that ImmunityBio’s IL-15 fusion protein, Anktiva, with FDA Breakthrough Therapy status for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS, has achieved its primary endpoint with 72% complete response Companies to host conference call today at 8:30 am ET   CULVER CITY, Calif. & EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2020-- ImmunityBio, a privately-held immunotherapy company, and NantKwest, Inc. (NASDAQ: NK), a clinical-stage, natural killer cell-based therapeutics company, today announced they have entered into an agreement to merge in a stock-for-stock transaction. The combination will create a leading immunotherapy and cell therapy company focused on oncology and infectious disease. Together, ImmunityBio and NantKwest will have a broad, clinical-stage pipeline – including 13 assets in clinical trials and 11 in Phase II to III – as well as a robust early stage pipeline to address other difficult to treat cancers. The combination of NantKwest’s Natural Killer (NK) cell platform and ImmunityBio’s immunotherapy fusion protein, immunomodulator, and adenovirus platforms have already resulted in complete responses in late stage, difficult to treat metastatic cancers. To date complete responses have been noted in patients with second line or greater metastatic pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. This strong track record of combination immunotherapies across the two companies’ platforms supports the potential of the combined assets to transform the future of immunotherapy beyond checkpoints by synergizing NantKwest’s cell-based therapies with ImmunityBio’s immunotherapy platforms. In a separate press release issued today, ImmunityBio announced that ImmunityBio’s IL-15 fusion protein, Anktiva, with FDA Breakthrough Therapy status for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS, has achieved primary endpoint with 72% complete response. ImmunityBio was founded by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, a physician and scientist who invented Abraxane for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, lung cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer. The companies, including their operations, are aligned given their long-standing collaboration programs with opportunity for advancing clinical development of the late stage Phase II and III trials. Dr. Soon-Shiong said, “We are developing next-generation immunotherapies to defeat cancer and infectious disease. By combining ImmunityBio’s immunotherapy platform, which includes the Anktiva IL-15 superagonist, with NantKwest’s natural killer cell platform, the merged entity will have a powerful and broad product portfolio that can activate both the innate (natural killer cell and macrophage) and adaptive (T cell) immune systems to create long-term immunological memory. What distinguishes the merged entity is the late stage immunotherapy product pipeline that is designed to eliminate the need for high-dose chemotherapy, improve the outcomes of current CAR T cell therapies, and extend beyond checkpoint inhibitors. With 13 clinical trials across multiple tumor types at Phase I to III and with the combined talent in research, clinical development and manufacturing, the merged entity is poised to be a leader in the immunotherapy space.” “We are excited to join forces with ImmunityBio, a company and team we have collaborated with for many years across our platforms,” said Rich Adcock, NantKwest Chief Executive Officer. “With the integration of ImmunityBio’s pipeline, cutting-edge R&D capabilities, talented employees and clinical expertise, we expect to accelerate the delivery of new treatments for patients with unmet needs. Together we can unlock the combined potential of our assets, and look forward to building on our continued success as one company.” Michael Blaszyk, an independent director of NantKwest and member of the Special Committee stated, “This transaction is a compelling opportunity to drive value creation for shareholders. Our Special Committee carefully evaluated the ImmunityBio proposal and determined it is in the best interests of shareholders and also benefits other stakeholders, including our employees, partners and patients.” ImmunityBio is a leading late stage immunotherapy company activating both the innate (natural killer cell and macrophage) and adaptive (T cell) immune system to treat serious unmet needs within oncology and infectious diseases. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Culver City, ImmunityBio’s platform is designed to overcome limitations of the current standards of T cell-based immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells. The company has established a robust next generation immunotherapy clinical pipeline with a strategy toward registrational intent in various indications, beyond checkpoint therapy treatment alone. Strategic and Financial Rationale Key attributes of the combined company will include: Expansive clinical-stage pipeline and intellectual property portfolio. 13 assets in clinical trials, including 11 in Phase II to III clinical trials, as well as a strong global intellectual property portfolio of issued and pending worldwide patent applications with patent life extending to 2035 and beyond. Differentiated technology and assets. Best-in-class combined discovery and development platforms for novel therapies and next-generation early-stage candidates across immunotherapy, neoepitopes and molecules enhancing allogeneic and autologous NK and T-cell therapies. Significant market opportunity. Well positioned to combine expertise, platforms and resources to address patients across oncology and infectious disease. Cutting-edge cell manufacturing expertise and ready-to-scale facilities. Extensive and seasoned R&D, clinical trial, and regulatory operations and development teams, which together will occupy over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and R&D facilities. Improved ability to combine platforms and therapies. The transaction improves the ability to more seamlessly combine programs and leverage resources and expertise across both companies’ platforms, ultimately strengthening the efforts of both companies on behalf of patients to drive better outcomes in the fight against oncology and infectious disease. Significant potential for strategic and financial synergies. This opportunity will come from meaningful streamlining of clinical operations, therapeutic discovery and development, and manufacturing. Transaction Details The transaction is structured as a tax-free 100% stock-for-stock merger, with ImmunityBio to reverse merge with NantKwest. Under the terms of the agreement, ImmunityBio shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.8190 shares of NantKwest for each share of ImmunityBio owned. Upon completion of the transaction, on a fully diluted basis, ImmunityBio shareholders will own approximately 72% of the combined company and NantKwest shareholders will own approximately 28% of the combined company, on a fully diluted basis. A Special Committee of the NantKwest Board of Directors, consisting of independent Directors, undertook a thorough review of the transaction and unanimously recommended that the company proceed with the transaction. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2021, is subject to shareholder approval by a majority of unaffiliated shareholders of NantKwest, in addition to other customary closing conditions. There is no filing requirement under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act for this transaction. Following the closing of the transaction, the combined company will assume the ImmunityBio name and continue to be listed on the NASDAQ exchange. However, the combined company ticker symbol is expected to be changed to IBRX. Leadership Richard Adcock will become the CEO of the combined company, and Dr. Soon-Shiong will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board. The combined company will be headquartered at ImmunityBio’s offices in Culver City, California. Advisors Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Lazard Frères & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors to ImmunityBio. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is serving as legal counsel for ImmunityBio. Barclays is serving as financial advisor to NantKwest’s Special Committee. Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal counsel for NantKwest’s Special Committee.

NK Added to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index: https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/annual-changes-to-the-nasdaq-biotechnology-index-2020-12-11

NantKwest twittert selbst, dass es die besten Covid Ergebnisse sind, die müssen echt überzeugt sein 💪: NantKwest @NantKwest vor 21 Min. Best data so far! #COVID19Vaccine #immunotherapy https://mobile.twitter.com/NantKwest

Zusammenfassung der Ad-hoc Meldung, bezüglich des Covid Impfstoffes, von gestern: IMMUNITYBIO’S HAD5 T-CELL COVID-19 VACCINE CANDIDATE SHOWS COMPLETE PROTECTION OF AIRWAYS IN NON-HUMAN PRIMATES IMMUNITYBIO- HAD5-COVID-19 ORAL VACCINE CANDIDATE WILL ENTER PHASE 1 HUMAN TRIALS IMMUNITYBIO - HAD5-COVID-19 ORAL CAPSULE VACCINE CANDIDATE WAS EFFECTIVE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN NON-HUMAN PRIMATES IMMUNITYBIO - HAD5-COVID-19 VACCINE DETERMINED TO BE WELL TOLERATED IMMUNITYBIO - PHASE 2 TRIAL IS NOW ACTIVELY RECRUITING IMMUNITYBIO- PENDING DISCUSSIONS WITH FDA, VACCINE CANDIDATE WILL BE EXPLORED TO PROVIDE A BOOST TO SUBCUTANEOUS VACCINATIONS

Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong Tweet mit Grafik zur Studie: Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong @DrPatSoonShiong vor 4 Std.: "T cells matter" https://mobile.twitter.com/DrPatSoonShiong

ImmunityBio’s hAd5 T-Cell COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Shows Complete Protection of Airways in Non-Human Primates BARDA-sponsored study shows second-generation hAd5 vaccine candidate in both subcutaneous and room temperature oral formulations inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus replication to undetectable levels and clears infection within days in 100% of vaccinated non-human primates The second-generation human adenovirus vector hAd5, which delivers both outer spike (S) and inner nucleocapsid (N) antigens, induced T cells and antibodies leading to reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in both lungs and nasal passages within seven days The hAd5-COVID-19 oral capsule vaccine candidate was effective at room temperature in non-human primates suggesting that it may not require cold chain logistics that can impede global distribution The hAd5-COVID-19 oral vaccine candidate will enter Phase 1 human trials as a prime and a boost and, pending discussions with the FDA, will be explored to provide a boost to subcutaneous vaccinations Twenty participants have completed testing in the Phase 1 trial at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, Calif., which evaluated both low and high doses of subcutaneous hAd5, with zero grade 3/4 adverse events reported. The Phase 2 trial is now actively recruiting. CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2020-- ImmunityBio, a privately-held immunotherapy company, today announced its COVID-19 vaccine candidate protected nasal and lung airways of non-human primates against coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in a challenge study. The study, sponsored by the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA), provides further evidence supporting the company’s use of a second-generation adenoviral vector that induces the immune system to both activate T cells and generate antibodies against multiple viral targets—blocking virus replication and clearing existing infection. https://ir.nantkwest.com/news-releases/news-release-details/immunitybios-had5-t-cell-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-shows?field_nir_news_date_value[min]=

NantKwest, gestern wieder im Forbes Magazin erwähnt: "Other companies are also working on adenovirus vaccines against Covid-19, including Johnson & Johnson, whose vaccine is currently in clinical trials with preliminary results expected in early 2021. China-based CanSino Biologists is also developing an adenovirus virus, as is NantKwest, the biotech company founded by billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong." https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2020/11/23/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine/?sh=500b39447b3e

ImmunityBio Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Demonstrating IL-15 Superagonist N-803 Improves Natural Killer-Mediated Tumor Cell Killing N-803 Boosts CD34+ Progenitor-Derived NK Cell Expansion and Functionality Adding N-803 to NK Cell Therapy has Potential to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 23, 2020-- ImmunityBio, a privately-held immunotherapy company, today announced the publication in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy of preclinical data demonstrating that ImmunityBio’s Anktiva™ (IL-15 superagonist also known as N-803) improves interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production and killing of tumor of cells in vitro and in vivo by CD34+ progenitor-derived natural killer (NK) cells. Anktiva is currently being evaluated in late-stage clinical trials in combination with NantKwest’s (NASDAQ: NK) NK cell therapies for multiple indications including metastatic pancreatic cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), bladder cancer and lung cancer. “While allogeneic NK cell therapy is a promising and potentially paradigm-shifting approach for cancer immunotherapy, there are still considerable challenges remaining in the field,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Chairman and CEO of ImmunityBio. “One way to boost NK cell function is through the use of IL-15, however, its short in vivo half-life limits its utility in the clinic. Anktiva was developed to overcome the limitations of IL-15 to fully unleash the potential of NK cell immunotherapy. These preclinical data are an important step forward in demonstrating the potential of Anktiva to boost NK cell functionality by increasing the production of key cytokines and improving killing properties across diverse in vitro and in vivo cancer models. Importantly, these data provide validating proof-of-mechanism that support the encouraging clinical data observed to date when combining Anktiva with NantKwest’s NK cell therapies across a range of challenging solid tumors with poor prognoses. We look forward to the continued evaluation of Anktiva as a promising IL-15 superagonist, which may be broadly applied to improve NK cell-based immunotherapies.” Key findings from the study performed under the guidance of Prof. Harry Dolstra at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in The Netherlands, reported in the publication titled, “IL-15 superagonist N-803 improves IFN-γ production and killing of leukemia and ovarian cancer cells by CD34+ progenitor-derived NK cells” include: Anktiva induces HPC-NK cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner; Treatment with Anktiva increases IFN-γ production in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor-derived NK cells (HPC-NK) stimulated with leukemia cells lines and improves killing of primary AML samples from patients; Anktiva improves serial killing properties of HPC-NK cells against leukemia as measured by live cell imaging with single cell resolution; Anktiva increases CXCL10 production and improves long-term HPC-NK cell-mediated killing in ovarian cancer spheroids, an ovarian cancer model which mimics three-dimensional growth of ovarian cancer in vivo; HPC-NK cells combined with Anktiva and nanogam (human immunoglobulins) show anti-tumor effects in a human ovarian cancer mouse model; Together, these data point to the clear potential of Anktiva™ to improve efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapies by promoting HPC-NK cell expansion and functionality.

NantKwest to Participate in the 32nd Annual Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2020-- NantKwest, Inc. (NASDAQ: NK), a clinical-stage, natural killer cell-based therapeutics company, today announced its participation in the virtual 32nd Annual Piper Sandler Healthcare conference, which takes place December 1-3, 2020. NantKwest Executive Chairman Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., and Chief Executive Officer Rich Adcock will participate in institutional investor meetings on Tuesday, December 1; meetings may be requested through Piper Sandler. Additionally, a pre-recorded fireside chat with Dr. Soon-Shiong and Mr. Adcock will be accessible beginning November 23, 2020 on the Piper Sandler conference site and in the Investors section of NantKwest’s website, NantKwest.com. The recording will be available on the NantKwest website through December 31, 2020.

NantKwest Inc. [NK] stock Initiated by Piper Sandler analyst, price target now $18  November 10, 2020 https://www.google.com/amp/s/dbtnews.com/2020/11/10/nantkwest-inc-nk-stock-initiated-by-piper-sandler-analyst-price-target-now-18/%3famp

$NK For some reason, no one on here has posted this yet, so here it is: youtube.com/watch?v=bL2ms1r... This is from the CSIR75 event in South Africa last week on Wednesday. It was available last Thursday. To save time, I suggest you just skip to the parts where PSS is speaking. The main takeaways here are: * The injection vaccine NHP study results were in on Oct. 13-15. The same day, the FDA authorized phase 1 human trials to begin. The results were very positive. * Oral capsule NHP studies were also done. The results were the same...very positive.