Tens of thousands of patients could benefit from a new jab on the NHS which ‘rapidly’ treats more than a dozen cancers in just 60 seconds.
The health service is set to roll out an injectable form of immunotherapy – which helps immune cells to fight the disease – that will cut treatment time by 90 per cent.
The jab, called pembrolizumab, is effective for 14 different types of cancer including lung, breast, head and neck, and cervical, helping patients spend less time in hospital and boosting NHS productivity.
Around 14,000 patients are started on the therapy each year in England, with the majority now expected to benefit from the ‘rapid’ treatment.
The jab will replace intravenous infusion, which can take up to two hours per session, sparing patients unnecessary time in treatment units and freeing up capacity for clinicians to treat more people, according to the NHS.
The new treatment will be given every three weeks as a one-minute shot, or every six weeks as a two-minute injection, depending on the cancer.
Professor Pete Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at the NHS, said: ‘This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients.
‘Managing cancer treatment and regular hospital trips can be really exhausting and not only will this innovation make therapy much quicker, it will help free up vital appointments for NHS teams to continue to bring down waiting times.’
The drug, sold under the brand name Keytruda, is injected under the skin into the fatty tissue of the abdomen or thigh
Should rapid cancer treatments be prioritised even if they carry rare but serious side effects?
The drug is injected into the fatty tissue just under the skin of the thigh or abdomen.
It works by blocking a protein called PD-1 which acts as a brake on immune responses, teaching the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
Shirley Xerxes, 89, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, was one of the first patients in the UK to receive the new jab, at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.
She said: ‘I can’t believe how little time it took. I was only in the chair for a matter of minutes instead of an hour or more.
‘It’s made such a difference and gives me more time to live my life, including spending more time gardening.’
But because the treatment targets the immune system, it can cause a number of serious side effects including breathlessness – due to a drop in red blood cells -fluid build-up, and hypothyroidism.
When thyroid hormones drop, this can cause fatigue, weight gain, depression and a deepening of the voice.
If medicine is prescribed to replace low hormone levels, a patient will need to take them for the rest of their lives.
Rarer side-effects include inflammation in the heart, stomach inflammation, pancreatitis and even inflammation in the brain, known as encephalitis.
However, these side-effects are rare and occur whether the drug is administered intravenously or through an injection.
Welcoming the innovation, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘Our National Cancer Plan promised to do more and go faster for patients – already we are delivering that change.’
‘As a cancer survivor, I know how important quick treatment is, and this rollout will offer quicker, more convenient care, saving patients time and helping them in their recovery with less time in hospital.’
‘Not only that – it’ll also free up valuable time so clinicians can care for even more people and potentially save even more lives.
‘The government is providing the health service with record funding, around 40,000 more people are starting treatment on time, and rates of early diagnosis are hitting record highs,’ he added.
‘Through innovations like this, we’re making every penny and every second count, and ensuring patients get NHS care that fits around their lives, not the other way around.’
Damning analysis recently revealed a record 106,810 cancer patients waited more than 62 days to start urgent treatment on the NHS last year.
More than four in five trusts missed the key target of treating 85 per cent of patients within this time frame.
Cancer charities warn such delays slash survival chances, can make some treatments less effective and increase anxiety.
Studies show every four-week delay reduces patient survival by an average of 10 per cent.
One person is diagnosed with cancer in the UK every 75 seconds following a surge in cases over the past decade, with more 50s now being diagnosed than ever.
The Department of Health and Social care said the NHS will meet all of its existing cancer targets by March 2028, alongside the Government’s National Cancer Plan which promises to embrace a robotic revolution to boost survival rates.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘At a time when capacity across the NHS is severely limited, innovations like this are crucial.
‘It’s important the UK Government continues to dedicate resources to ensuring proven treatments reach patients quickly and fairly.
She added that it’s ‘great news’ the new treatment, which is already used treat multiple cancers, will be available as a rapid jab in the NHS.
‘This will speed up the delivery of treatment, allowing people to spend more time living their lives outside of hospital, as well as freeing up time for staff to care for other patients,’ she said.
John McNeill, Oncology Business Unit Director at MSD, the manufacturer of the drug, said: ‘We are pleased to introduce this new treatment option for patients that can be administered in one minute every three weeks or in two minutes every six weeks – significantly faster than IV delivery.
‘This not only enhances the patient experience for many but also frees up valuable time for clinicians. This innovation offers a practical, patient-centred solution to improve productivity, capacity, and convenience in NHS cancer care.’
