The NHS has become the first health service in Europe to offer a new cancer jab that dramatically cuts treatment time.
Patients will now receive their immunotherapy in just 5 minutes instead of up to an hour via an IV drip, marking a breakthrough in cancer treatment that will benefit thousands of patients across England.
The injectable form of immunotherapy, nivolumab, can be used to treat 15 different cancer types, including skin cancer, bladder, and oesophagus.
Clinical trials showed patients were highly satisfied with the under-the-skin injection, preferring it to the IV form, which takes between 30 to 60 minutes every two or four weeks.
1,200 patients in England per month could benefit from the treatment
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It is estimated that around 1,200 patients in England per month could benefit from this new treatment.
Around two in five patients who currently receive IV nivolumab, one of the most widely used cancer treatments, should be eligible for the new jab.
Most eligible new patients are also expected to begin directly on the injectable form.
The time-saving benefits are substantial, with NHS staff administering the jab expected to save around 1,000 hours of treatment time monthly. This equates to more than a full year of time annually.
The faster treatment comes at no extra cost to the NHS thanks to an agreement negotiated with the manufacturer Bristol Myers Squibb.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: “Immunotherapy has already been a huge step forward for many NHS patients with cancer, and being able to offer it as an injection in minutes means we can make the process far more convenient.
“This treatment is used for 15 different types of the disease, so it will free up thousands of valuable clinicians’ time every year, allowing teams to treat even more patients and helping hospital capacity.”
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Ashley Dalton said: “Britain is a hotbed of innovation, masterminding the newest tech and medical inventions to help people navigating illness.
NHS cancer services are preparing to treat the first patients with the new jab
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“A new jab that fastens up cancer treatment is a prime example of this, so it’s fantastic to see cancer patients in England will be among the first in Europe to benefit.
“With cancer medicines getting better all the time, this government will ensure that NHS patients are among the first to access the latest treatments and technology.”
NHS cancer services are preparing to treat the first patients with the new treatment next month when supplies arrive in the UK.
The rollout forms part of NHS England’s three-pillar approach to delivering value from medicines, which includes cutting-edge innovations, smarter use of biosimilars and generics, and treatments that free up clinical capacity.
