The National Health Service (NHS) in England is set to revolutionize cancer treatment times by introducing a new anti-cancer injection that can reduce treatment durations by as much as 75%.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given its approval for this innovative approach, making the NHS the first health system globally to implement this revolutionary treatment. The injection, which takes a mere seven minutes to administer, will significantly enhance the experience for hundreds of cancer patients.

The current method of delivering the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tencentriq) involves a time-consuming process of intravenous drug transfusion, which can take up to 30 minutes, and even up to an hour for some patients with challenging vein access. However, the newly approved subcutaneous injection method will drastically cut down administration time, freeing up precious resources for cancer teams and providing a more comfortable experience for patients.

Atezolizumab, an immunotherapy drug that empowers the body's immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells, is commonly used for patients with various cancers, including lung, breast, liver, and bladder cancers. This innovative injection approach is expected to benefit the majority of the roughly 3,600 patients who start atezolizumab treatment annually in England. Patients who receive intravenous chemotherapy alongside atezolizumab may continue with the transfusion method.

NHS National Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, emphasized the importance of maintaining the best possible quality of life for cancer patients and highlighted how this innovation aligns with the NHS's ongoing commitment to advanced cancer treatments. He also expressed how this development marks another milestone in the 75th year of the NHS, showcasing its dedication to providing cutting-edge healthcare.

Dr. Alexander Martin, a consultant oncologist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, hailed the news as a positive step for both patients and healthcare professionals. The quicker and more convenient treatment option will not only benefit patients but also enable healthcare teams to treat a greater number of patients each day.

It's noteworthy that this accelerated treatment option incurs no additional cost for the NHS, thanks to the existing commercial agreement between NHS England and the manufacturer Roche. The introduction of subcutaneous atezolizumab builds on the success of a similar innovation in 2021 – the cancer treatment Phesgo – which drastically reduced treatment times for breast cancer patients.

Marius Scholtz, Medical Director at Roche Products Limited, expressed his delight in offering NHS patients the subcutaneous PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy injection, Tecentriq. This new administration method was developed through collaborative efforts and support from the cancer community. The rollout of this revolutionary treatment is another testament to the NHS's commitment to adopting medical advancements that enhance healthcare efficiency.

This milestone aligns with the NHS's ongoing efforts to incorporate medical innovations and streamline services. Additionally, the NHS recently issued new guidance to optimize medicine usage and is poised to save £7 billion by the year's end due to a five-year drug pricing agreement negotiated with the pharmaceutical industry. (ILKHA)