Tens of thousands of cancer patients across England are set to benefit from a new rapid immunotherapy injection now being rolled out by the NHS, which can be administered in as little as 60 seconds.
The treatment is a new injectable form of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and can reduce the time patients spend receiving treatment by up to 90 per cent, helping them spend less time in hospital while improving NHS productivity.
Pembrolizumab is currently given through an intravenous (IV) infusion, which can take up to two hours per appointment when preparation and administration time are included.
The new subcutaneous injection, given just under the skin, replaces the IV drip for most patients and dramatically shortens treatment time. Depending on the cancer type, it can be delivered:
- Every three weeks as a one‑minute injection, or
- Every six weeks as a two‑minute injection
Clinicians say the shorter appointments will significantly reduce disruption to patients’ daily lives.
The new injection can be used to treat 14 different cancer types, including:
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Cervical cancer
Pembrolizumab works by triggering the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells, and is a cornerstone treatment for many people living with advanced or hard‑to‑treat cancers.
Around 14,000 patients start pembrolizumab therapy each year in England, and most are expected to be eligible for the new injection.
Beyond the benefits to patients, NHS leaders say the new injection will also free up vital clinical capacity.
IV pembrolizumab requires hospital pharmacy teams to prepare infusion bags under strict sterile conditions, a process that is time‑consuming for staff and can limit how many patients can be treated each day.
Switching to a ready‑to‑administer injection removes this step entirely, freeing up pharmacy time, treatment chairs, and clinic space so clinicians can see and treat more patients.
Pembrolizumab, manufactured by MSD, is an immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD‑1, which normally acts as a brake on the immune system.
By blocking PD‑1, the drug releases the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells more effectively, helping slow or stop the progression of the disease.
Patients who need pembrolizumab alongside other IV cancer treatments may continue to receive an infusion where clinically appropriate.
NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said:
“This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients and it’s fantastic that this new rapid jab can now take just a minute to deliver – meaning patients can get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair.
“Managing cancer treatment and regular hospital trips can be really exhausting, and not only will this innovation make therapy much quicker and more convenient for patients, it will also help free up vital appointments for NHS teams to treat more people and continue to bring down waiting times.”
Shorter appointments may reduce fatigue, travel burden, and anxiety, while allowing people to maintain better day‑to‑day routines, work commitments, and social lives.
The rollout of the rapid injection reflects the NHS’s wider aim to modernise cancer care, adopting innovations that improve patient experience while making better use of limited resources.
By saving time for both patients and staff, the change is expected to help services respond more effectively to growing demand for cancer treatment across England.
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