# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000756913
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-177836
**Filing Date:** 2026-4
**Character Count:** 23730
**Document Hash:** 8e63e30f6a97b2dfc8af815ba607fca0
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-177836.hdr.sgml**: 20260427

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-177836

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 497K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 3

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260427

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260424

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260427

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000756913

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0630

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 497K
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 002-94157
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26896005

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 617-663-3000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** JOHN HANCOCK TRUST
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20050124

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** MANUFACTURERS INVESTMENT TRUST
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19971022

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** NASL SERIES FUND INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19881030

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Health Sciences Trust (Series ID: S000008239)

| Class ID   | Class Name   | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000022442 | NAV          | JAFMX           |
| C000022443 | Series I     | JEHSX           |
| C000022444 | Series II    | JAFKX           |

![](g472180jh_blk.jpg)

**April 27, 2026**

**John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust**

**Summary prospectus**

Health Sciences Trust

Before you invest, you may want to review the fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund's prospectus and other information about the fund, including the Statement of Additional Information and most recent reports, online at dfinview.com/johnhancock?site=funds. You can also get this information at no cost by sending an email request to webmail@jhancock.com or calling 800-344-1029 (for John Hancock Variable Annuities) or 800-732-5543 (for John Hancock Variable Life Insurance), or if your policy is held through another insurance company, please contact that company. The fund's [prospectus and Statement of Additional Information](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/756913/000119312526156991/d224548d485bpos.htm), both dated April 27, 2026, as may be supplemented, and most recent [financial highlights](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/756913/000075691326000008/8de7a0eecd56ac8.htm) information included in the shareholder report, dated December 31, 2025, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. This summary prospectus is intended for use in connection with a variable contract as defined in Section 817(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not intended for use by other investors.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Tickers** |  |  |
| Series I: JEHSX | Series II: JAFKX | Series NAV: JAFMX |

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**Investment objective**

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To seek long-term capital appreciation.

**Fees and expenses**

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This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. **The fees and expenses do not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance or variable annuities contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did.** 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Annual fund operating expenses (%)** (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | **Series I** | **Series II** | **Series NAV** |
| Management fee | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.00 |
| Other expenses | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 |
| **Total annual fund operating expenses** | **1.05** | **1.25** | **1.00** |
| Contractual expense reimbursement | -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>| -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>| -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>|
| **Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements** | **1.04** | **1.24** | **0.99** |

---

**1**

The advisor contractually agrees to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses for the fund and certain other John Hancock funds according to an asset level breakpoint schedule that is based on the aggregate net assets of all the funds participating in the waiver or reimbursement, including the fund (the participating portfolios). This waiver equals, on an annualized basis, 0.0100% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $75 billion but is less than or equal to $125 billion; 0.0125% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $125 billion but is less than or equal to $150 billion; 0.0150% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $150 billion but is less than or equal to $175 billion; 0.0175% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $175 billion but is less than or equal to $200 billion; 0.0200% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $200 billion but is less than or equal to $225 billion; and 0.0225% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $225 billion. The amount of the reimbursement is calculated daily and allocated among all the participating portfolios in proportion to the daily net assets of each participating portfolio. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's reimbursement amounted to 0.01% of the fund's average daily net assets. This agreement expires on July 31, 2027, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.

**Expense example**

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The examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that $10,000 is invested in the fund for the periods indicated and then all shares are redeemed at the end of those periods. The examples also assume that the investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The expense example does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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Health Sciences Trust

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Expenses ($)** | **Series I** | **Series II** | **Series NAV** |
| 1 year | 106 | 126 | 101 |
| 3 years | 333 | 396 | 317 |
| 5 years | 578 | 685 | 551 |
| 10 years | 1282 | 1510 | 1224 |

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**Portfolio turnover**

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The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.

**Principal investment strategies**

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Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks of companies engaged, at the time of investment, in the research, development, production, or distribution of products or services related to health care, medicine, or the life sciences (collectively, "health sciences"). (The fund will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to a change in its 80% investment policy.)

While the fund may invest in companies of any size, the majority of its assets are expected to be invested in large- and mid-cap companies.

The subadvisor's portfolio managers divide the health sciences sector into four main areas: pharmaceutical companies, health care services companies, medical products and devices providers, and biotechnology firms. Their allocation among these four areas will vary depending on the relative potential within each area and the outlook for the overall health sciences sector. While most assets will be invested in U.S. common stocks, the fund may purchase other securities, including foreign securities, in keeping with its investment objective.

The fund concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its total assets) in securities of companies in the health sciences sector, a comparatively narrow segment of the economy, and therefore may experience greater volatility than funds investing in a broader range of industries.

In managing the fund, the subadvisor uses a fundamental, bottom-up analysis that seeks to identify high quality companies and the most compelling investment opportunities. In general, the fund will follow a growth investment strategy, seeking companies whose earnings are expected to grow faster than inflation and the economy in general. When stock valuations seem unusually high, however, a "value" approach, which gives preference to seemingly undervalued companies, may also be emphasized.

The fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in foreign securities (including emerging market securities) and may have exposure to foreign currencies through its investment in these securities, its direct holdings of foreign currencies or through its use of foreign currency exchange contracts for the purchase or sale of a fixed quantity of a foreign currency at a future date.

In pursuing its investment objective, the fund's management has the discretion to purchase some securities that do not meet its normal investment criteria, as described above, when it perceives an opportunity for substantial appreciation. These situations might arise when the fund's management believes a security could increase in value for a variety of reasons including a change in management, an extraordinary corporate event, or a new product introduction or innovation or a favorable competitive development.

The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons including to realize gains, limit losses or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.

*Use of Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions*. The fund is authorized to use all of the various investment strategies referred to under "Additional Information About the Funds' Principal Risks — Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk" including entering into option transactions.

**Principal risks**

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An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Many factors affect performance, and fund shares will fluctuate in price, meaning you could lose money. The fund's investment strategy may not produce the intended results.

The fund's main risks are listed below in alphabetical order, not in order of importance. *Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 257 of the prospectus*.

**Concentration risk.** Because the fund may focus on one or more industries or sectors of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of those industries or sectors. As a result, the value of an investment may fluctuate more widely since it is more susceptible to market, economic, political, regulatory, and other conditions and risks affecting those industries or sectors than a fund that invests more broadly across industries and sectors.

**Credit and counterparty risk.** The counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

**2**

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Health Sciences Trust

**Currency risk.** Fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of a fund's investments. Foreign currencies may decline in value, which could negatively impact performance.

**Economic and market events risk.** Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial services companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.

**Equity securities risk.** The price of equity securities may decline due to changes in a company's financial condition or overall market conditions. Growth company securities may fluctuate more in price than other securities because of the greater emphasis on earnings expectations. Securities the manager believes are undervalued may never realize their full potential value, and in certain markets value stocks may underperform the market as a whole.

**Foreign securities risk.** Less information may be publicly available regarding foreign issuers, including foreign government issuers. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes and may be more volatile than U.S. securities. Currency fluctuations and political and economic developments may adversely impact the value of foreign securities. The risks of investing in foreign securities are magnified in emerging markets.

**Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (Stock Connect) risk.** Trading in China A-Shares through Stock Connect, a mutual market access program that enables foreign investment in the People's Republic of China (PRC), is subject to certain restrictions and risks. Securities listed on Stock Connect may lose purchase eligibility, which could adversely affect the fund's performance. Trading through Stock Connect is subject to trading, clearance, and settlement procedures that may continue to develop as the program matures. Any changes in laws, regulations and policies applicable to Stock Connect may affect China A-Share prices. These risks are heightened by the underdeveloped state of the PRC's investment and banking systems in general.

**Healthcare sector risk.** Health sciences companies may be significantly affected by product obsolescence, thin capitalization, limited product lines and markets, civil liability claims, and legislative or regulatory activities, among other factors.

**Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk.** Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund's volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund's principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, credit default swaps, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, swaps, swaptions, equity-linked notes (equity-linked notes generally reflect the risks associated with their underlying securities, depend on the credit of the note's issuer, may be privately placed, and may have a limited secondary market), inverse floating-rate securities, reverse repurchase agreements, total return swaps, and options on futures. Foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, and swaps generally are subject to counterparty risk. In addition, swaps may be subject to interest-rate and settlement risk, and the risk of default of the underlying reference obligation. Derivatives associated with foreign currency transactions are subject to currency risk. An event of default or insolvency of the counterparty to a reverse repurchase agreement could result in delays or restrictions with respect to the fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. In addition, a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leverage and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund's net asset value (NAV) per share.

**Investment company securities risk.** Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of any investment company in which the fund invests. The total return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other investment companies, including advisory fees.

**Large company risk.** Larger companies may grow more slowly than smaller companies or be slower to respond to business developments. Large-capitalization securities may underperform the market as a whole.

**Liquidity risk.** The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments.

**Operational and cybersecurity risk.** Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund's securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.

**Small and mid-sized company risk.** Small and mid-sized companies are generally less established and may be more volatile than larger companies. Small and/or mid-capitalization securities may underperform the market as a whole.

**Past performance**

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The following information illustrates the variability of the fund's returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the fund's average annual returns compared with a broad-based securities market index. Past performance does not indicate future results. The Lipper Health/Biotechnology Index shows how the fund's performance compares against the returns of similar investments. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. The performance information below does not reflect fees and

**3**

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Health Sciences Trust

expenses of any variable insurance contract which may use JHVIT as its underlying investment option. If such fees and expenses had been reflected, performance would be lower.

**Calendar year total returns (%)—Series I**

![](g472180healthscit_i.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Best quarter:** | Q2 2020 | 23.63% |
| **Worst quarter:** | Q4 2018 | -16.07% |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Average annual total returns (%)—as of 12/31/2025** | **1 year** | **5 year** | **10 year** |
| **Series I** | 19.49 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.15 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.70 |
| **Series II** | 19.22 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.94 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.48 |
| **Series NAV** | 19.53 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.19 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.75 |
| S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | 17.88 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.42 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.82 |
| Lipper Health/Biotechnology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | 22.02 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.26 | &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.18 |

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**Investment management**

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**Investment advisor** John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC

**Subadvisor** T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

**Portfolio management**

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The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund's portfolio.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Ziad Bakri, MD, CFA**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Jeff Holford** |
| *Vice President*<br> Managed fund since 2016<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; *Vice President*<br> Managed fund since 2026<br>|

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**1**

Effective July 1, 2026, Ziad Bakri will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the fund.

**Purchase and redemption of fund shares**

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Shares of the fund are not sold directly to the public but generally may be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment options for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by such companies, to certain entities affiliated with the insurance companies, to those funds of JHVIT that operate as funds of funds and invest in other funds and to certain qualified retirement plans (qualified plans).

Shares of the fund are offered continuously, without sales charge, and are sold and redeemed each business day (which typically is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open) at a price equal to their net asset value (NAV) determined for that business day as set forth under "Valuation of shares" in this prospectus. The Portfolio does not have minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements. Payment for shares redeemed will generally be made within seven days after receipt of a proper notice of redemption.

**Taxes**

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Because shares of the fund may be purchased only through variable insurance contracts and qualified plans, it is expected that any dividends or capital gains distributions made by the fund will be exempt from current federal taxation if left to accumulate within the variable contract or qualified plan. Holders of variable insurance contracts should consult the prospectuses of their respective contracts for information on the federal income tax consequences to such holders.

**4**

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Health Sciences Trust

**Compensation of financial intermediaries**

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The fund is not sold directly to the general public but instead is offered as an underlying investment option for variable insurance contracts. The distributors of these contracts, the insurance companies that issue the contracts and their related companies (Related Parties), may pay compensation to broker-dealers and other intermediaries for distribution and other services and may enter into revenue sharing arrangements with certain intermediaries. The fund pays fees to the Related Parties for management, distribution and other services. Payments by insurance and related companies to intermediaries may create a conflict of interest by influencing them and their salespersons to recommend such contracts over other investments. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information. In addition, payments by the funds to Related Parties may be a factor that an insurance company considers in including the funds as underlying investment options in variable insurance contracts. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your variable insurance contract may contain additional information about these payments.

**5**

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![](g472180jh_blk.jpg)© 2026 John Hancock Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC <br>200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 <br>John Hancock Variable Annuities: 800-344-1029 <br>John Hancock Variable Life Insurance: 800-732-5543 <br>johnhancock.com

SEC file number: 811-04146 <br>4/27/26

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