Thousands of cancer patients are set to benefit from a revolutionary new five-minute injection on the NHS – with Britain the first country in Europe to offer the treatment.
A swift-acting jab version of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab will now be rolled out across the NHS, slashing treatment times for patients while freeing up vital hospital resources.
In a major win for both patients and frontline staff, the breakthrough jab replaces a procedure that previously took up to an hour via IV drip – cutting it down to just 3–5 minutes.
Crucially, the NHS has struck a deal to provide the new treatment at no additional cost.
It’s expected that around 1,200 patients in England each month could benefit from the under-the-skin injection, which has been approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Around two in five patients who currently receive nivolumab via IV will be eligible for the new jab.
The treatment will be used across 15 types of cancer, including skin cancer, bladder, kidney, and oesophageal cancers.
‘A Huge Step Forward’
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer, hailed the innovation as “a huge step forward”.
“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.”
The time savings are dramatic: NHS staff are expected to save around 1,000 hours of clinical time every month, the equivalent of more than one full year of work annually. Most new patients are also expected to start directly on the injectable version.
Patients Prefer the Jab
In clinical trials, patients overwhelmingly preferred the quick jab to the existing IV infusion, which could take between 30 and 60 minutes every few weeks.
James Richardson, Clinical Pharmacist and National Specialty Adviser for Cancer Drugs, said:
“I am delighted that NHS patients across England will soon be able to benefit from this quicker-to-administer, effective treatment… This is a significant advancement in cancer treatment, with the potential to improve the lives of thousands of patients each month.”
The injection will be rolled out from next month, once supplies arrive in the UK. NHS cancer units are already preparing to begin treatment.
‘Fantastic News for Patients’
Elizabeth O’Mahony, NHS England Chief Financial Officer, called it a “major win” for both patients and staff.
“Reducing treatment times from an hour to just minutes is a huge boost for people going through cancer care,” she said. “It’s also a major win for the NHS, saving the equivalent of a year’s worth of treatment time which can be used to deliver other care.”
This is the latest move in the NHS’s bold plan to modernise treatment, after recent successes with fast-acting jabs for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and blood disorders.
The treatment, developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, has been delivered to the NHS as part of an agreement ensuring no added financial burden — a vital factor as services face increasing demand.
Source: NHS England
FANTASTIC NEWS!! Bloomberg news article- Trump suggests some trade deals may come as soon as this week. ( didn’t say exactly which countries- just folks in Europe)