ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX) Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., has been invited to deliver the 2023 David Packard Award Lecture at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
This prestigious invitation recognizes Dr. Soon-Shiong’s groundbreaking work in cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and digital technologies to share genomic information. With this honor, Dr. Soon-Shiong joins a select group of innovators and scientists who have been invited to give the David Packard Award Lecture.
On Tuesday, April 25, join us in Bethesda, MD for a captivating lecture on the Cancer Moonshot and how to activate Natural Killer and T Cells to induce T Cell Memory for the Treatment of Cancer. It’s an opportunity to learn about the latest research advances and get a glimpse of the future of cancer treatment. Don’t miss out!
Dr. Soon-Shiong has carved an impressive career as a surgeon, scientist, inventor, and philanthropist, amassing 500 issued worldwide patents and 100 scientific publications. His interest in immunology began during his tenure at UCLA, where he pioneered the first whole pancreas transplant and performed Whipple procedures on pancreatic cancer patients. This experience inspired him to explore the power of the immune system in order to improve the welfare of his patients.
Dr. Soon-Shiong’s groundbreaking invention Abraxane, the nation’s first protein nanoparticle chemotherapy, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005 for breast cancer and went on to gain approval for lung and pancreatic cancer by 2013.
This success sparked Dr. Soon-Shiong’s interest in the tumor microenvironment and led to his Packard lecture which will explore how orchestrating the innate immune system with the adaptive system could revolutionize cancer care and the development of a cancer vaccine. His journey to this innovative research began in 2001 when he founded American Pharmaceutical Partners (APP).
The David Packard Award lecture at USU is an annual event honoring the legacy of Hewlett-Packard cofounder and former USU President, David Packard. Previous speakers at this esteemed event have included Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner and NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci. This lecture serves as a reminder of Packard’s contributions to the university, the nation, and the world.
About the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, established by an act of Congress in 1972, is the United States’ only federal health sciences university. USU’s students are mainly active-duty uniformed officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Public Health Services, who are educated in tropical and infectious diseases, TBI and PTSD, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, global health, and acute trauma care.
Moreover, the University offers graduate programs in oral biology, biomedical sciences, and public health. Its research programs are extensive, covering many areas of importance for military and public health. USU is the academic heart of the Military Health System, and is dedicated to providing excellence in research and education.
About ImmunityBio
ImmunityBio is a pioneering biotechnology firm on a mission to revolutionize the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. Leveraging cutting-edge immunotherapy and cell therapy platforms, the company is developing powerful, next-generation therapies and vaccines that bolster the body’s natural immune system to deliver durable and safe protection.
By creating treatments that are more effective, accessible and easily administered than current standards of care, ImmunityBio is striving to make a lasting impact on the lives of countless patients around the world.
ImmunityBio’s lead cytokine fusion protein, Anktiva™ (N-803), has been granted the prestigious Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track Designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its potential to treat BCG-unresponsive CIS non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). With its Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date set for May 23, 2023, N-803 is currently undergoing FDA review for this indication with much anticipation.
The company is a leader in cell therapy manufacturing, boasting cutting-edge GMP manufacturing capacity at scale, ready-to-scale facilities, and highly experienced R&D, clinical trial, and regulatory operations and development teams. With this unparalleled expertise, they are revolutionizing the way cell therapy is produced, developed, and regulated.