Why It Matters

ImmunityBio’s shift to cancer-focused lobbying marks a strategic recalibration from its prior COVID-19 vaccine work. The company previously spent $210,000 through Petrizzo Group Inc. between 2021 and 2022, narrowly focused on pandemic vaccine technology. Now engaging Continental Strategy LLC—a larger firm representing major healthcare players like Centene Corp. and CVS Health—signals ImmunityBio is betting on sustained federal investment in cancer research and supportive regulatory pathways.

By the Numbers

ImmunityBio Inc. previously spent $210,000 on federal lobbying between November 2021 and October 2022, working exclusively with Petrizzo Group Inc. on COVID-19 vaccine technology. The new engagement with Continental Strategy LLC represents a strategic shift toward cancer treatment advocacy.

Lead lobbyist Timothy M. Costa brings Republican congressional credibility and a decade of healthcare expertise spanning Medicare policy, FDA regulation, and pharmaceutical development. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA-9).

The Agenda

ImmunityBio Inc. is lobbying on "opportunities, funding, and support for medical research, development, and manufacturing of certain cancer treatments." This represents a strategic pivot toward ImmunityBio’s core mission: advancing its cancer immunotherapy pipeline through federal support and favorable policy conditions.

Broader Context

Congress is locked in contentious debate over federal research funding. The NIH terminated over 1,800 grants between February and June 2025, with proposed budget cuts potentially reducing NIH funding by roughly 40%.

However, Congress has shown bipartisan resistance to the deepest cuts. The Senate rejected proposed NIH cuts in July 2025, with the House supporting current funding levels and proposing a $48 million increase for the National Cancer Institute.

Bills like the K.O. Cancer Act of 2025—proposing 25% annual NCI funding increases—and the BRAIN Act signal sustained support for cancer immunotherapy development.

Between The Lines

Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Debbie Dingell introduced the K.O. Cancer Act of 2025, proposing a 25% annual funding increase for the NCI over five years. Key congressional hearings on biomedical research competitiveness and FDA breakthrough therapy development have underscored focus on the innovation pipeline.

Competitive Landscape

ImmunityBio enters a well-established advocacy ecosystem. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) lobbies on NIH and NCI appropriations with quarterly expenditures around $100,000. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) focuses specifically on cancer immunotherapy research funding—directly aligned with ImmunityBio’s mission.

The Bottom Line

ImmunityBio has shifted its federal lobbying focus from COVID-19 vaccines to cancer immunotherapy development, engaging Continental Strategy LLC as Congress battles over proposed NIH and NCI funding cuts. The company joins established advocacy coalitions in a crowded space focused on sustaining federal research support and protecting clinical trial infrastructure.

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