RE: Easier NHS treatment4 May 2026 10:17
The NHS in England is rolling out rapid, under-the-skin injection forms of immunotherapy drugs (such as Keytruda/pembrolizumab and nivolumab/Opdivo) for various cancers, reducing treatment times from over an hour (IV drip) to just 3–7 minutes. These injections, often called "jabs" or "super-jabs," treat up to 15 cancer types including breast, lung, and skin cancer.
Key Aspects of the New Cancer Jabs (2025–2026):
Faster Delivery:
Takes 3–7 minutes instead of 30–60 minutes for IV infusion, allowing patients to spend less time in the hospital.
How They Work:
They are immunotherapy treatments, not traditional chemotherapy. They help the immune system identify and destroy cancer cells that have "hidden".Usage:
Used for multiple cancer types, including lung, breast, liver, renal, bladder, and skin cancers.
Convenience: Improves patient experience and frees up capacity for NHS staff.Availability:
England is the first country in Europe to offer these, with thousands of patients projected to transition to this method.Commonly Used "Jab" Drugs:Nivolumab (Opdivo): Used for 15 cancer types, offering 5-minute treatments.
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq): Takes around 7 minutes, used as an alternative to IV.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda): Used for multiple cancers, reducing time to a couple of minutes.
Note: The term "chemo jab" often refers to these modern immunotherapies, though, in rare cases, specific traditional chemotherapy drugs may also be given via a quick direct injection into a vein (IV push), rather than a slow drip