A major breakthrough in cancer care is being introduced across the UK’s National Health Service, with a new one-minute injection designed to treat 14 different types of cancer.
The treatment, a fast-acting form of immunotherapy known as pembrolizumab, will replace traditional intravenous infusions that currently take up to two hours per session. Health officials say the change could reduce treatment time by up to 90%, allowing patients to receive care in just one to two minutes.
The injection will be used for patients with cancers including breast, cervical, lung, head and neck cancers, among others. Around 14,000 patients in England begin this therapy each year, and most are expected to transition to the faster method following its approval for widespread use.
Medical experts say the drug works by helping the immune system recognise and destroy cancer cells by blocking a protein that shields tumours from immune attack.
The rollout is expected to make a significant difference for both patients and hospitals. Clinicians say it will reduce the physical and emotional burden of long hospital visits while freeing up thousands of hours of clinical time annually.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the initiative reflects efforts to make NHS care faster and more efficient, adding that improved treatment speed will help save lives and improve patient experience.
Cancer specialists also welcomed the development, noting that the new injection system could help ease pressure on overstretched hospital services while allowing more patients to be treated each day.
Experts estimate that the shift could save over 100,000 clinical hours annually, as it removes the need for lengthy infusion preparation and administration processes.
Patients who have already received the injection described the experience as significantly quicker and more convenient, highlighting the benefit of reduced time spent in hospital during treatment.
The rollout is being described as one of the most significant modernisations in cancer treatment delivery, with the UK among the first countries to implement the injectable form at scale.
