NHS rolls out revolutionary five-minute 'super-jab' to treat 15 cancer types

A groundbreaking five-minute "super-jab" is poised to benefit thousands of cancer patients in England, with the potential to "transform lives". The is the first European health service to offer this , which could save patients around a year's worth of treatment time.

As reported by , the jab is an injectable form of the immunotherapy medication, nivolumab, allowing patients to receive their fortnightly or monthly treatment in just five minutes, compared to up to an hour via an IV drip. This injection can be used to treat 15 different types of cancer, including skin, bladder, and oesophagus cancers, with an estimated 1,200 patients in England per month expected to benefit from it.

Following approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on April 30, the NHS reported that patients in clinical trials were "highly satisfied" with the under-the-skin injection. Many preferred it over the IV form of the drug, which takes between 30 to 60 minutes every two weeks or four weeks, depending on the type of cancer.

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Approximately two in five patients currently receiving IV nivolumab, a commonly used cancer treatment, are expected to be eligible for the new jab. NHS cancer services are gearing up to offer the new treatment to patients starting next month.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, highlighted the significance of this advancement. He 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. And this is just the latest development in the NHS's ongoing commitment to provide patients with the latest cancer therapies and treatment options that truly transform lives".

The time savings anticipated from the introduction of this injectable therapy are substantial - an estimated 1,000 hours per month, which translates to over one full year annually. James Richardson, NHS England's 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, that can be used to treat a range of cancer types, including skin cancer and solid tumours originating in the kidneys.

"This is a significant advancement in cancer treatment, with the potential to improve the lives of thousands of patients each month". The treatment will not impose any additional costs on the NHS due to an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb.

Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, added: "Britain is a hotbed of innovation, masterminding the newest tech and medical inventions to help people navigating illness. 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."