Iovance Biotherapeutics: The High‑Risk Cancer Stock I Think Could Change a Portfolio by 2036

By Prosper Junior Bakiny – Mar 5, 2026 at 5:27PM ESTKey PointsIovance Biotherapeutics' most important product has strong momentum right now.However, the company faces significant challenges that make the stock risky.Iovance could soar if it can overcome the potential obstacles ahead. Penny stocks sometimes offer significant upside potential. However, they also carry far more risk than more established corporations. Before investing in a penny stock, investors must do their due diligence (as usual) and ensure they are comfortable with the heightened risk and volatility. Let's consider one penny stock that looks very risky but, given near-perfect execution, could see its shares skyrocket over the next decade: Iovance Biotherapeutics (IOVA +7.86%). Here is more on this cancer-fighting company. Image source: Getty Images. Iovance is finding some success Iovance Biotherapeutics developed Amtagvi, a medicine manufactured from patients' own cancer-fighting cells. Amtagvi earned approval for melanoma in early 2024. Although the stock has not performed well since, Amtagvi has made decent commercial progress. In the fiscal year 2025, Iovance's revenue, most of which is generated through Amtagvi, totaled $263.5 million, up 60.6% year over year. Iovance has plenty of momentum with its crown jewel. The company is working on earning approvals for Amtagvi in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia. It also earned the green light in Canada last year. Beyond melanoma, Amtagvi is also investigating label expansions. It just reported encouraging results from a small, early stage clinical trial for the medicine in patients with some rare cancers. ExpandNASDAQ: IOVAIovance BiotherapeuticsToday's Change(7.86%) $0.34Current Price$4.59Key Data PointsMarket Cap$1.9BDay's Range$4.12 - $4.5952wk Range$1.64 - $4.60Volume640KAvg Vol14MGross Margin17.09% Amtagvi has also earned the Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. This designation helps expedite the development of promising medicines that could fill an unmet medical need in treating a serious disease. Amtagvi is undergoing studies across several other forms of cancer. The best-case scenario for Iovance would be to launch Amtagvi for the treatment of melanoma in new markets, secure label expansions, and achieve consistent sales growth over the next 10 years. If Amtagvi can grab a decent share of a large market like NSCLC, Iovance's shares could soar on the back of strong financial results. There are significant risks Despite Amtagvi's momentum, Iovance Biotherapeutics faces important challenges. There are the usual potential clinical and regulatory roadblocks that biotech companies, especially smaller ones, have to try to navigate. Clinical setbacks could sink the stock price. However, Iovance Biotherapeutics faces other roadblocks. Amtagvi has a complex manufacturing and administration process. Physicians have to collect patients' cells, prepare the medicine for each patient, and administer it via intravenous infusion after the patient has undergone chemotherapy. It takes about 34 days to manufacture Amtagvi, and it can only be administered at dedicated centers staffed by trained specialists. This complex and expensive process significantly complicates matters for Iovance Biotherapeutics, which will struggle to turn a profit because of it. So, for all those reasons (and more), investing in biotech isn't for the faint of heart. But the stock could skyrocket over the next decade if it navigates the challenges successfully. Invest accordingly.Read NextFeb 23, 2026 •By Adria Cimino1 Nearly Unknown Biotech Stock Set To Go Parabolic If Its Pipeline HitsNov 11, 2025 •By David Jagielski, CPADown 75% in 12 Months, Can Iovance Biotherapeutics Stock Turn Things Around?Nov 7, 2025 •By Prosper Junior Bakiny2 Small-Cap Stocks With Far More Upside Than Any "Magnificent Seven" Stock, According to Wall StreetOct 17, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyBetter Beaten-Down Stock: Iovance Biotherapeutics vs. Teladoc HealthOct 13, 2025 •By James BrumleyIs Iovance Biotherapeutics Stock Your Ticket to Becoming a Millionaire?Sep 19, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyCan This Beaten-Down Stock Bounce Back?About the AuthorProsper Junior Bakiny is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare stocks.

Before The Motley Fool, Prosper wrote about investing topics ranging from stock market news to private equity for various companies. He holds a master’s degree in corporate finance from the University of Maryland Global Campus.TMFPBakinyStocks MentionedIovance BiotherapeuticsNASDAQ: IOVA$4.60(+7.86%)+$0.34*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.