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NHS England to Introduce Europe’s First Injectable Cancer Immunotherapy

The five-minute nivolumab jab, approved by the MHRA, will benefit 1,200 patients monthly, replacing IV infusions for 15 cancer types at no additional cost.

Overview

  • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new injectable form of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab, also known as Opdivo.
  • This under-the-skin injection, which takes just 3–5 minutes to administer, will replace 30–60 minute intravenous infusions for eligible patients.
  • The rollout, starting in May 2025, will make the NHS the first health service in Europe to offer this innovation, benefiting around 1,200 patients per month.
  • The switch to the injectable form is expected to save approximately 1,000 hours of treatment time for patients and clinicians each month, improving hospital capacity.
  • Thanks to a procurement agreement, the NHS will provide this treatment at no additional cost, enhancing efficiency while maintaining affordability.