Biopharma & Cigalah are two of the largest pharmaceutical commercial distributors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
ImmunityBio has entered into a strategic partnership with Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare to introduce ANKTIVA in Saudi Arabia, with plans to broaden availability across the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement brings together ImmunityBio’s immunotherapy innovation with two of the region’s most established healthcare commercialization and distribution organizations to support patient access to advanced cancer treatments.
Under the collaboration, Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare will oversee commercial and distribution activities for ANKTIVA in Saudi Arabia. The therapy will be offered in combination with Bacillus Calmette Guérin for patients diagnosed with BCG unresponsive non muscle invasive bladder cancer carcinoma in situ, whether or not papillary disease is present. It will also be used alongside a checkpoint inhibitor for individuals living with metastatic non small cell lung cancer. By aligning with experienced regional partners, ImmunityBio aims to ensure that physicians and treatment centers can incorporate ANKTIVA into existing oncology protocols efficiently.
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To strengthen its regional presence, ImmunityBio has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. This local entity will manage in country operations and support long term growth across Middle Eastern and North African markets. The move reflects the company’s intention to build sustainable infrastructure rather than rely solely on external partnerships.
Richard Adcock, President and Chief Executive Officer of ImmunityBio, said the collaboration represents an important milestone in expanding access to innovative immunotherapies. He noted that Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare have built strong reputations for delivering advanced treatments to patients with serious conditions. According to Adcock, their established commercial networks and operational capabilities will help accelerate the availability of ANKTIVA to physicians and health systems throughout Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt.
Cancer rates continue to rise across parts of the MENA region, underscoring the importance of expanding treatment options. Lung cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Saudi Arabia and is among the leading cancers affecting men over the age of forty five, based on data from the Saudi Ministry of Health. Bladder cancer also presents a significant burden in several countries in the region, with Lebanon reporting some of the highest incidence rates globally and countries such as Syria and Egypt facing substantial case volumes.
Tamer Eissa, General Manager of Biopharma, said the partnership aligns closely with the company’s mission to provide physicians and patients access to advanced therapies for complex diseases. He explained that ANKTIVA offers a meaningful addition to the oncology landscape, particularly for cancers that are difficult to treat. Eissa added that Biopharma and Cigalah Healthcare are committed to working alongside ImmunityBio to expand treatment access for bladder and lung cancer patients across Saudi Arabia and the broader markets they serve.
Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio, recently met with regulatory leaders in the region to discuss expanding access to the company’s immunotherapy platform. He shared that discussions with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Emirates Drug Establishment were constructive and focused on broadening patient access to innovative therapies. Dr. Soon Shiong said he was encouraged by the collaborative approach of regional regulators and their interest in advancing next generation immunotherapy strategies, including the use of ANKTIVA as a foundational component in natural killer cell based treatments across multiple tumor types.
ANKTIVA first received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2024 for use in combination with BCG in patients with BCG unresponsive non muscle invasive bladder cancer carcinoma in situ, with or without papillary tumors. The therapy was later authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom in July 2025 and by the European Commission in February 2026. In January 2026, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority approved ANKTIVA for the same bladder cancer indication and also cleared its use in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor for metastatic non small cell lung cancer.
With this regional launch, ImmunityBio is positioning ANKTIVA as a central component of its broader immunotherapy strategy while reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to innovative cancer treatments for patients throughout Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
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