The NHS in England has launched a new injectable form of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo), capable of treating 15 different types of cancer, including skin, bladder, and oesophageal cancers. This “super-jab” significantly reduces treatment time from up to an hour of intravenous therapy to just three to five minutes via an under-the-skin injection.
Approximately 1,200 patients per month—about 40% of those currently receiving nivolumab via IV—are expected to be eligible for the new method. The rapid jab not only improves convenience for patients but also eases hospital capacity by freeing up clinician time.
Professor Peter Johnson of NHS England emphasized the jab’s potential in enhancing efficiency and patient experience.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the jab following positive results in clinical trials, where patients favored the injection over traditional IV delivery.
The NHS is the first healthcare service in Europe to implement this innovation, offering new hope and increased convenience for thousands battling cancer.
For more information on the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad and personalized cancer vaccine trials, visit the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad page. (NHS England)
