Encouraging news for cancer patients nationwide, with the launch of an under-the-skin injection that can replace intravenous infusion. 

Patients with cancer could benefit from an immunotherapy jab now on the NHS. An under-the-skin injection replaces an intravenous infusion, which can take up to two hours per session.

The new injectable form of pembrolizumab, known as Keytruda, can be used to treat 14 cancer types, including lung, breast, head and neck and cervical. It triggers immune cells to recognise and kill cancer cells. It can also slash the time the treatment takes by up to 90%, in further attempts to reduce patients’ time in hospital and improve NHS productivity.

Around 14,000 patients start pembrolizumab therapy each year in England, with most now expected to use the more convenient version. Currently, hospital pharmacy teams must prepare intravenous bags under specialist sterile conditions. Moving to ready-to-administer subcutaneous injection frees both preparation and clinic time. 

It will be given every three weeks as a one-minute injection, or every six weeks as a two-minute injection, depending on cancer type.

Manufactured by Merck, pembrolizumab works by blocking the PD-1 protein, which acts as a brake on immune responses. This releases the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.

Patients receiving the drug alongside other intravenous treatments may continue with an infusion if clinically appropriate.

“This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients, and it’s fantastic that this new rapid jab can now take just a minute to deliver – meaning patients can get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair,” said Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England. 

“Managing cancer treatment and regular hospital trips can be really exhausting, and not only will this innovation make therapy much quicker and more convenient for patients, it will also help free up vital appointments for NHS teams to treat more people and continue to bring down waiting times,” he added.

Personalisation and early diagnosis were among the priorities of this year’s National Cancer Plan for England.