Saudi Arabia Approves Cancer Drug for Bladder and Lung

A breakthrough cancer treatment that helps the body fight tumors like never before just received major international approval, bringing hope to patients worldwide.

Saudi Arabia's FDA approved Anktiva, an innovative immunotherapy drug, for treating both bladder and lung cancer this week. The drug works by activating natural killer cells in the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells without traditional chemotherapy.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who developed the treatment through his biotech company ImmunityBio, has spent the last decade and his own personal fortune perfecting this approach. The Los Angeles Times owner and Lakers part-owner self-funded the entire development without government support, driven by a lifelong dream to cure cancer.

The U.S. FDA has already approved Anktiva for one specific type of bladder cancer, making it the first immunotherapy of its kind. But Soon-Shiong believes the treatment could work across many cancer types, and early results support that hope.

Clinical trials spanning 10 years show the drug extends survival in breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma patients. Soon-Shiong calls it a "universal treatment" that could transform how we fight one of humanity's deadliest diseases.

The Saudi approval covers more cancer types than the current U.S. approval, potentially paving the way for broader acceptance. Soon-Shiong hopes this international recognition will encourage American regulators to expand approval for U.S. patients.

The Ripple Effect

This approval represents more than one drug reaching one market. It signals a fundamental shift in cancer treatment from poisoning tumors with chemicals to empowering our own immune systems to win the fight.

For millions of cancer patients facing limited options and harsh side effects from chemotherapy, immunotherapy offers genuine hope. Every approval in every country creates momentum, pushing the medical community toward better, more effective treatments.

Saudi Arabia's decision to lead on this approval also shows how medical innovation can come from unexpected places, with countries stepping up to give their citizens access to promising treatments faster.

The collaboration between American innovation and Middle Eastern regulatory courage could set a new standard for how breakthrough treatments reach patients who desperately need them.

After a decade of work and personal investment, Soon-Shiong is watching his life's dream become reality one approval at a time.