NHS England Rolls Out 7-Minute Cancer Treatment
Highlights:
- NHS England has introduced a rapid anti-cancer vaccine that can reduce treatment time for some patients by 75%, administered in as little as 7 minutes
- This subcutaneous injection has received approval from the MHRA and aims to provide a quicker and more comfortable treatment
- The new vaccine is expected to benefit both patients and NHS cancer teams, potentially freeing up valuable time
The National Health Service (NHS) England, the publicly funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom, has introduced a new anti-cancer vaccine that can significantly reduce the duration of treatment for some patients by 75%. According to NHS England, this vaccine can be administered in as little as 7 minutes, making it the world's first health system to offer this rapid injection to hundreds of NHS cancer patients annually (1✔).
New Anti-Cancer Vaccine Offers Hope
This new vaccine has received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a UK government agency responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines and medical devices. Currently, patients receive the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab, which extends their lives, through intravenous infusion in a hospital setting, a process that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. In contrast, the new anti-cancer vaccine is administered subcutaneously, under the skin, providing a quicker and more comfortable experience for patients.Faster Adminstration Benefits the Patient
This faster administration benefits patients and saves valuable time for NHS cancer teams. The healthcare system in England expects that the majority of the approximately 3,600 patients who begin their annual atezolizumab treatment will transition to this time-saving injection.
Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that empowers the patient's immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. It is used to treat various cancers, including lung, breast, liver, and bladder cancers.
‘New anti-cancer vaccine can shorten the treatment time for certain patients by a staggering 75%. #7minutecancertreatment #cancerdrug’
However, patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy in combination with atezolizumab may continue to receive the drug through transfusion. NHS National Director for Cancer, Peter Johnson, emphasized the importance of maintaining the best possible quality of life for cancer patients and welcomed this initiative. At the same time, Alexander Martin, a consultant oncologist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, expressed support for any new approach that accelerates treatment and improves patient comfort.
Cancer is responsible for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide each year, making it one of the leading causes of death globally. This underscores the urgent need for advancements in cancer treatment and care to improve patient outcomes and reduce the impact of this devastating disease.
"In the pursuit of progress against cancer, every minute matters."
Reference:
- NHS world first rollout of cancer jab that cuts treatment time by up to 75% - (https:www.england.nhs.uk/2023/08/nhs-world-first-rollout-of-cancer-jab-that-cuts-treatment-time-by-up-to-75/)
Source: Medindia
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Dr. Krishanga. (2023, September 02). NHS England Rolls Out 7-Minute Cancer Treatment. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 03, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/nhs-england-rolls-out-7-minute-cancer-treatment-213327-1.htm.
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Dr. Krishanga. "NHS England Rolls Out 7-Minute Cancer Treatment". Medindia. Jan 03, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/nhs-england-rolls-out-7-minute-cancer-treatment-213327-1.htm>.
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