This is indeed exciting news for cancer treatment in England.
The National Health Service (NHS) will be the first in the world to offer an injection that treats cancer to hundreds of patients, potentially reducing treatment times significantly.
The NHS in England is introducing a groundbreaking cancer treatment that involves an "under the skin" injection of atezolizumab
also known as Tecentriq. Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy drug developed by Genentech, a Roche company.
This new treatment option has received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making it available for eligible patients in England.
Traditionally, atezolizumab was administered to patients intravenously through a drip, which could take up to 30 minutes or even longer.
With the new injection method, the process takes approximately seven minutes.
This is expected to significantly reduce treatment time and make it more convenient for patients.
The injection method is expected to be particularly beneficial for patients in whom it can be difficult to access a vein for intravenous treatment.
Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that works by empowering the patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancerous cells .
It is used to treat various types of cancer, including lung, breast, liver, and bladder cancer.
NHS England anticipates that the majority of the approximately 3,600 patients starting atezolizumab treatment each year in England will switch to the new injection method.
However, patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy in combination with atezolizumab may still require transfusions.
Healthcare professionals are optimistic that this new injection method will not only provide more efficient care but also enable cancer teams to treat more patients throughout the day.
Overall, this development represents a significant step forward in cancer treatment, offering patients in England a more convenient and potentially faster option for receiving atezolizumab immunotherapy.
It has the potential to improve the quality of care and accessibility for cancer patients in the country.