Patrick Soon-Shiong is a surgeon, scientist, inventor and biotechnology entrepreneur. He is founder and chairman of NantWorks and ImmunityBio and serves as executive chairman of the Los Angeles Times.
Soon-Shiong founded and led American Pharmaceutical Partners and Abraxis BioScience and is the inventor of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), a nanoparticle-based chemotherapy considered a landmark in translational oncology. As a surgeon, he was among the first to perform encapsulated human islet cell transplants, advancing cellular therapies for diabetes.
Through ImmunityBio, Soon-Shiong and his team developed Anktiva, an interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor agonist approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in combination with BCG for adults with BCG-unresponsive nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without papillary tumors. The therapy is being evaluated for additional indications. He launched and hosts the video series “Cancer Decoded” with Mark Halperin to broaden public conversations about cancer through the 2WAY community.
Soon-Shiong is chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation and the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine, which support biomedical research and global health innovation. His honors include the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award and a Franklin Institute award.
The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 recognizes leaders who have shaped current oncology practice and continue to drive innovation, research, advocacy, philanthropy, leadership and education. Many deserving individuals not listed will continue to be acknowledged and elevated in daily publications worldwide.
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