- U.S. Urology Partners is one of the first providers to offer patients ImmunityBio’s recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (rBCG)
- The FDA recently authorized ImmunityBio’s EAP for rBCG to address U.S. shortages and provide an alternative source of BCG, a critical standard-of-care in bladder cancer
- Multiple urology centers across the U.S. are in the process of activating their sites to administer rBCG
“The shortage of BCG has real consequences, especially in many rural communities across the country where supply shortages have impacted the treatment of patients with bladder cancer,” said Christopher M. Pieczonka, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Director of Clinical Research, Associated Medical Professionals, an affiliate of U.S. Urology Partners. “I’m pleased U.S. Urology is at the forefront of offering rBCG and would like to thank ImmunityBio for their initiative to seek and secure authorization from the FDA for expanded access to this vital BCG alternative.”Supply shortages of TICE BCG in the U.S. have become a significant impediment to the treatment of bladder cancer patients. In a recent Sermo survey of 100 U.S. urologists, 57 percent indicated they were unable to treat patients in the last 12 months due to a lack of access to TICE BCG. Providers who are unable to source TICE BCG are able to access rBCG through the ImmunityBio EAP.
“It is gratifying to see the rapid uptake and interest in the rBCG Expanded Access Program, which was authorized by the FDA just recently,” added Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio. “Participation by a major national provider like U.S. Urology Partners is a testament to the critical importance of rBCG and the need for an alternative supply of this essential medicine.”
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to expand the BCG supply to allow more patients to receive the full course of their cancer treatment, saving bladders and extending lives,” said Dr. Eugene B. Cone, Co-Director of Clinical Research, Urology of Indiana, an affiliate of U.S. Urology.
The Serum Institute of India, ImmunityBio’s collaboration partner, is the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. In bladder cancer clinical trials in Europe, the recombinant BCG vaccine has demonstrated potent immunogenicity with CD8+ and CD4+ T cell stimulation and improved safety compared to earlier BCG strains and formulations. Clinical research organization, Anova Enterprises, Inc. (Anova) is helping ImmunityBio manage the rBCG EAP.
“Constrained BCG supply has improved stewardship of a limited resource but has come at a high cost to our patients,” said Dr. Chad Reichard, Co-Director of Clinical Research, Urology of Indiana. “rBCG represents a long overdue potential alternative but does not abrogate responsibility to ongoing diligence and discipline in BCG delivery.”
Source: ImmunityBio, Inc. (2025). ImmunityBio Announces First Dosing of Recombinant BCG (rBCG) in the U.S. and 60 Sites Are in the Process of Launching [Press release]. https://immunitybio.com/news-and-events/.