Prime Highlights
- The NHS has introduced a new injectable form of the cancer drug Keytruda, replacing the long drip process with a quick injection that takes only a few minutes.
- The update is expected to improve patient experience by reducing hospital time and easing pressure on cancer treatment units across the UK.
Key Facts
- Around 14,000 patients in England start Keytruda treatment each year, and most are expected to switch to the faster injection method.
- The drug will now be given every three or six weeks as a one- or two-minute injection under NHS England, helping make treatment more efficient and less time-consuming.
Background
A new injectable version of a widely used cancer treatment could significantly reduce the time patients spend in hospitals across the UK, according to NHS England. The change involves the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, which is already used to treat several types of cancer. The new version replaces the slow drip method with a quick injection that takes only a few minutes.
This update is expected to help thousands of patients every year by making cancer treatment quicker and easier. Around 14,000 patients in England start treatment with Keytruda annually, and most are expected to switch to the new injection format.
Earlier, the drug was given through an intravenous infusion, which required patients to sit in the hospital for more than an hour while the medicine was slowly delivered. Under the new system, patients will receive the treatment in about one to two minutes, depending on their condition and dosing schedule. Doctors will give the injection once every three or six weeks.
Patients have already begun to notice the difference. Shirley Xerxes, an 86-year-old from St Albans, was among the first to receive the injection at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. She said she now spends only a few minutes in the treatment chair instead of over an hour, which allows her more time for daily life activities such as gardening.
Medical experts say the change could ease pressure on hospitals. Prof Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said shorter treatment times will help free up chemotherapy units and reduce the burden on staff. He also added that quicker procedures may open the door for cancer care to be delivered in community settings in the future.
The injectable version is the third of its kind introduced in the NHS, following similar advancements in other immunotherapy drugs. The medicine is developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme, and is already one of the world’s most widely used cancer treatments.
The NHS has not shared the exact cost of the new version, but officials say it is likely to be similar to the current treatment. The change is seen as a move toward quicker and more flexible cancer care in the UK.
