Post by @MichelleMaxwell
85% credible (90% factual, 72% presentation). The post accurately reports a NewsNation segment from November 2025 featuring Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and Robert Redfield discussing IL-15 therapy Anktiva, which is FDA-approved for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer since 2024. However, the presentation sensationalizes broader 'cure' claims for other cancers, omitting ongoing trials and skepticism, and relies on anecdotal evidence, which undermines the overall credibility.
Analysis Summary
The post summarizes a recent NewsNation 'Killing Cancer' segment featuring Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong promoting his IL-15-based Anktiva therapy and Robert Redfield urging FDA acceleration. The segment and quotes are real, but the therapy is FDA-approved only for specific bladder cancers, not a general 'cure'. Opposing views highlight hype around ImmunityBio's unproven broader claims and ongoing trials.
Original Content
The Facts
The post accurately captures a real NewsNation segment from late November 2025 featuring Soon-Shiong and Redfield advocating for faster FDA support of IL-15 therapies like Anktiva, with patient anecdotes emphasized. Mostly true but sensationalized—Anktiva is FDA-approved for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (2024), but broader 'cure' claims for other cancers remain unproven amid ongoing trials and skepticism from sources like STAT News piercing ImmunityBio's hype.
Benefit of the Doubt
The author advances a pro-innovation, anti-FDA-bureaucracy narrative aligned with conservative critiques of regulatory delays, hyping anecdotal successes to build excitement and tag influential figures like @SecKennedy for amplification. Key omissions include Anktiva's existing FDA approval for bladder cancer, lack of phase 3 data for other cancers, and criticisms of overpromising (e.g., STAT News on ImmunityBio hype); this selective framing portrays the therapy as a suppressed 'cure' to evoke urgency and hope while downplaying scientific caveats.
Visual Content Analysis
Images included in the original content
VISUAL DESCRIPTION
Split-screen TV interview screenshot from NewsNation show 'Killing Cancer' hosted by Chris Cuomo (top-left, dark suit, city lights background); Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong (glasses, gray hair, suit, speaking); Robert Redfield (bald, glasses, suit); another man (brown hair, glasses, office background). Red banner with show title and question; NewsNation logo bottom-left.
TEXT IN IMAGE
"Killing Cancer" "Why Won't FDA Clear Possible Cancer Cure?" NewsNation Cuomo [Cuomo logo] Urology [partial] "Killing Cancer"
MANIPULATION
No signs of editing, artifacts, or deepfakes; standard broadcast screenshot with consistent lighting, graphics, and video frames.
TEMPORAL ACCURACY
Matches late November 2025 NewsNation special per web sources; no outdated clues like old logos or attire.
LOCATION ACCURACY
Depicts TV studio/remote interviews as claimed; no specific location mismatch, aligns with NewsNation broadcast.
FACT-CHECK
Authentic screenshot of the referenced segment; reverse image context confirms NewsNation 'Killing Cancer' special with these guests discussing Soon-Shiong's therapy.
How Is This Framed?
Biases, omissions, and misleading presentation techniques detected
Omits Anktiva's existing FDA approval only for specific bladder cancer and lack of phase 3 data for broader cancers, portraying it as a wholly new, suppressed cure
Problematic phrases:
"may have a treatment that could cure cancer""IL-15–based therapy could cure cancer"What's actually there:
FDA-approved Dec 2024 for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; ongoing trials for others with skepticism (e.g., STAT News)
What's implied:
Unapproved general cancer cure needing urgent FDA acceleration
Impact: Readers perceive therapy as revolutionary breakthrough blocked by FDA, inflating hope and urgency while ignoring partial approval and unproven claims
Excludes criticisms of ImmunityBio's hype and limited evidence beyond anecdotes
Problematic phrases:
"Dr. Soon-Shiong pointed to patients who were near death... suddenly recovered"What's actually there:
Ongoing trials, no broad phase 3 success; reports of overpromising
What's implied:
Impact: Suppresses skepticism, making anti-FDA narrative seem unchallenged
Uses alarmist language to demand immediate action despite existing approval and trials
Problematic phrases:
"MAJOR DEVELOPMENT""accelerate support” NOW""FDA needs to “accelerate support” NOW"What's actually there:
Segment from late Nov 2024; therapy partially approved since 2024
What's implied:
Impact: Creates false sense of crisis, pressuring for hasty deregulation
Highlights successes without failure rates or trial totals
Problematic phrases:
"If you see 10 people get better, that means something"What's actually there:
Anecdotes from small subset; no overall success rates provided
What's implied:
Impact: Inflates perceived effectiveness by ignoring non-responders
Directly attributes recoveries to therapy without controls or alternatives
Problematic phrases:
"after receiving the therapy""IL-15 therapies are designed to supercharge it"What's actually there:
Anecdotal; no causation proven in anecdotes
What's implied:
Impact: Leads readers to assume direct cure causality
Sources & References
External sources consulted for this analysis
https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/soon-shiong-immunitybio-cancer-trial-results/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/newsnation-special-killing-cancer-treatment-soon-shiong/
https://cancerworld.net/patrick-soon-shiong-he-who-speaks-for-the-people/
https://immunitybio.com/about/
https://oncodaily.com/voices/patrick-soon-shiong-416221
https://immunitybio.com/founders-vision/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-how-it-works-cancer-treatment/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-patients-results/
https://newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-cancer-treatment-information/amp
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-how-it-works-cancer-treatment/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/newsnation-special-killing-cancer-treatment-soon-shiong/
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/immunitybios-bladder-cancer-therapy-wins-205534718.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-01-13/dr-patrick-soon-shiong-says-triangle-offense-against-cancer-is-working-video
https://www.biospace.com/immunitybio-s-patrick-soon-shiong-discusses-decades-long-quest-to-orchestrate-nk-and-t-cells
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1917644243079749955
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1971303117741252696
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1931039543962087499
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1937595807504675100
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1936199106936160516
https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1950679720435036581
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/newsnation-special-killing-cancer-treatment-soon-shiong/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-cancer-treatment-information/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/anktiva-how-it-works-cancer-treatment/
https://oncodaily.com/voices/patrick-soon-shiong-416221
https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/soon-shiong-immunitybio-cancer-trial-results/
https://www.urologytimes.com/view/anktiva-as-a-lymphocyte-rescue-molecule-unlocking-the-power-of-nk-cells-and-t-cells
https://www.wfla.com/news/national/what-to-know-about-anktiva-the-cancer-drug-that-doesnt-use-chemotherapy/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/newsnation-special-killing-cancer-treatment-soon-shiong/
https://yahoo.com/news/articles/newsnation-special-killing-cancer-feature-214027797.html
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1906308193329823813
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1882778058546897202
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1906776879895597079
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1914726925031129110
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1891466765709844537
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1861949727719219297
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