Cancer Patients in England to Be First in Europe to Receive Immunotherapy Injection

England is leading Europe in rolling out a game-changing cancer treatment: an injectable immunotherapy jab called nivolumab (Opdivo). The new jab, approved by the MHRA, will replace time-consuming IV drips for up to 15,000 cancer patients annually, speeding up care and freeing NHS resources. It’s suitable for 15 different cancers including lung, bowel, and skin.

England Launches Groundbreaking Immunotherapy Jab for Cancer Patients

In a major milestone for cancer care, NHS England has become the first healthcare service in Europe to offer an injectable version of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo), transforming treatment for up to 15,000 patients each year.

The innovative injection, approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), can be administered in just three to five minutes—dramatically faster than the traditional intravenous (IV) method, which takes up to an hour.

Eligible for 15 different types of cancer, the jab will be available to patients with:

• Lung cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Oesophageal cancer
• Skin cancer
• Head and neck cancers

Major Time Savings for the NHS

Patients typically receive treatment every two to four weeks. By switching to this faster method, NHS England estimates a collective time saving equivalent to over a year of treatment time annually, allowing staff to treat more patients and easing pressure on the health system.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said:

“Being able to offer this as an injection in minutes means we can make the process far more convenient while freeing up hospital capacity.”

How Nivolumab Works

Nivolumab is part of a class of drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. It works by targeting the PD-1 protein on T-cells, which cancer cells often exploit to avoid immune detection. By blocking this pathway, nivolumab reawakens the immune system, helping it identify and destroy cancer cells.

No Extra Cost to the NHS

NHS England confirmed that the injectable form will not cost more than the IV infusion, thanks to a pricing agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol Myers Squibb.

Each month, around 1,200 patients could benefit from switching to the injection, and most new patients are expected to start on the injectable version going forward.

Cancer Experts Applaud the Move

Naser Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at Cancer Research UK, welcomed the breakthrough:

“We’re in a golden age of cancer research. Innovations like this will be vital for treating patients sooner and more efficiently.”

He added that the upcoming national cancer plan presents a key opportunity for the government to invest in delivering cutting-edge treatments to patients faster.