Stock Market Today, Feb. 23: ImmunityBio Surges After Anktiva Revenue Jumps 700%
The Motley Fool
by newsfeedback@fool.com (Josh Kohn-Lindquist)February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The stock market saw mixed movements on Feb. 23, 2026, with ImmunityBio (NASDAQ:IBRX) standing out as a top performer. The biotech company’s shares surged 12.99%, closing at $9.83, driven by a 700% year-over-year increase in ANKTIVA revenue and narrowing losses. This growth has sparked investor interest in how ImmunityBio’s global expansion and new approvals will translate into long-term profitability despite its challenging historical performance since its IPO in 2015.
The company reported strong demand for its primary biologic product, Anktiva, which saw a 700% revenue jump in 2025 and a 20% quarter-over-quarter increase in Q4. These gains were fueled by approvals to treat certain forms of bladder cancer in the U.S., E.U., U.K., Saudi Arabia, and 33 other countries, setting the stage for a broader international launch.
While ImmunityBio’s stock gained momentum, broader markets showed weakness. The S&P 500 fell 1.01% to 6,840, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.13% to 22,627. Among biotech peers, Iovance Biotherapeutics closed at $2.89 (+0.70%), and Krystal Biotech finished at $274.59 (+4.89%), reflecting resilience in the drug development sector despite market headwinds.
ImmunityBio’s trading volume reached 85.8 million shares, a nearly 176% increase over its three-month average of 31.1 million shares. This surge highlights investor optimism about Anktiva’s potential to drive sustained demand and solidify ImmunityBio’s position in the competitive immunotherapy landscape.
For readers interested in finance, this story underscores the importance of tracking both rapid revenue growth and strategic expansion in biotech companies. While ImmunityBio’s past challenges remain significant, its recent performance signals a potential turning point for investors seeking high-growth opportunities in the sector.
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Originally published on The Motley Fool on 2/23/2026