NHS cancer jab could mean patients spend hours less in hospital
Summary
NHS England has introduced a new injectable form of the cancer drug Keytruda, which can be given in one or two minutes instead of over an hour through a drip. This injection will save time for thousands of cancer patients and hospital staff, making treatment quicker and potentially easier to receive outside hospitals.Key Facts
- Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system fight cancer.
- Since 2015, Keytruda was given by intravenous drip, taking over an hour to administer.
- The new injectable form cuts treatment time to about 1-2 minutes per dose.
- About 14,000 NHS patients in England start treatment with Keytruda each year.
- The drug treats 14 types of cancer, such as lung, head and neck, cervical, and breast cancers.
- The injection will be given every three or six weeks, depending on the cancer type.
- Immunotherapy works by blocking cancer cells from hiding from the immune system.
- NHS England could not disclose the cost but expects it to be similar to the current drip form.
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