• last year
In a pioneering move, England is set to introduce the world's first seven-minute cancer treatment injection, marking a significant milestone in healthcare. The National Health Service (NHS) of Britain will lead the charge as it becomes the first health body globally to offer this revolutionary medical breakthrough, slashing treatment times by up to three-quarters.
The groundbreaking development was announced by NHS England on Tuesday, unveiling plans to administer ""under the skin"" injections of atezolizumab to hundreds of patients who have previously received immunotherapy. This transformative treatment approach has received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a critical milestone in its journey to widespread adoption.
Currently, patients undergoing life-extending immunotherapy with atezolizumab, also known as Tencentriq, receive it through intravenous infusion in hospitals. This process typically consumes around 30 minutes, and in some cases, it can stretch to an hour. However, the introduction of the new method will allow the drug to be administered beneath the skin, drastically reducing treatment time.
Atezolizumab, a type of targeted therapy drug classified as an immune checkpoint inhibitor, is used both independently and in combination with other chemotherapy medications. It is primarily employed in the treatment of various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Melanoma, Urothelial Carcinoma, and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. This monoclonal antibody plays a crucial role in empowering the patient's immune system to identify and eliminate cancerous cells. Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, manufactures this groundbreaking drug.
The transition to the more efficient under-the-skin injection method is expected to impact a significant portion of the approximately 3,600 patients who begin atezolizumab treatment in the UK each year. For patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy in conjunction with atezolizumab, the option of remaining on transfusion will also be available.
Dr. Alexander Martin, a consultant oncologist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, expressed his excitement over this approval. He highlighted that the shift to under-the-skin injections would not only provide more convenient and faster care for patients but also enable healthcare teams to accommodate more patients throughout the day. This development promises a brighter future for cancer patients in England.
The implementation of the new injection method is expected to take place within weeks. Eligible patients undergoing atezolizumab treatment will soon benefit from the quicker and more comfortable subcutaneous injection method, transforming their cancer care experience.

#England #CancerTreatment #Cancer #HWNews #EnglandNews #Injection #InternationalNews
Transcript
00:00 In a pioneering move, England is set to introduce the world's first seven-minute cancer treatment
00:17 injection, marking a significant milestone in healthcare.
00:20 The National Health Service (NHS) of Britain will lead the charge as it becomes the first
00:25 health body globally to offer this revolutionary medical breakthrough, slashing treatment times
00:30 by up to three-quarters.
00:32 The groundbreaking development was announced by NHS England on Tuesday, unveiling plans
00:37 to administer under-the-skin injections of atezolizumab to hundreds of patients who have
00:41 previously received immunotherapy.
00:44 This transformative treatment approach has received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare
00:48 Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a critical milestone in its journey to widespread adoption.
00:55 Currently, patients undergoing life-extending immunotherapy with atezolizumab, also known
01:00 as Tencentric, receive it through intravenous infusion in hospitals.
01:05 This process typically consumes around 30 minutes, and in some cases, it can stretch
01:10 to an hour.
01:11 However, the introduction of the new method will allow the drug to be administered beneath
01:15 the skin, drastically reducing treatment time.
01:18 Atezolizumab, a type of targeted therapy drug classified as an immune checkpoint inhibitor,
01:24 is used both independently and in combination with other chemotherapy medications.
01:29 It is primarily employed in the treatment of various cancers, including non-small cell
01:34 lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, urothelial carcinoma,
01:42 and triple negative breast cancer.
01:44 This monoclonal antibody plays a crucial role in empowering the patient's immune system
01:48 to identify and eliminate cancerous cells.
01:51 Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, manufactures this groundbreaking drug.
01:56 The transition to the more efficient under-the-skin injection method is expected to impact a significant
02:01 portion of the approximately 3,600 patients who begin atezolizumab treatment in the UK
02:07 each year.
02:08 For patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy in conjunction with atezolizumab, the option
02:13 of remaining on transfusion will also be available.
02:17 Dr. Alexander Martin, a consultant oncologist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, expressed
02:23 his excitement over this approval.
02:25 He highlighted that the shift to under-the-skin injections would not only provide more convenient
02:30 and faster care for patients but also enable healthcare teams to accommodate more patients
02:34 throughout the day.
02:36 This development promises a brighter future for cancer patients in England.
02:41 The implementation of the new injection method is expected to take place within weeks.
02:45 Eligible patients undergoing atezolizumab treatment will soon benefit from the quicker
02:50 and more comfortable subcutaneous injection method, transforming their cancer care experience.
02:55 Notably, this groundbreaking advancement will come at no additional cost to the NHS, thanks
03:00 to an existing commercial agreement between NHS England and Roche, the pharmaceutical
03:05 manufacturer.
03:07 This collaboration underscores the commitment of both parties to making innovative treatments
03:11 accessible to patients without placing an additional financial burden on the healthcare
03:15 system.
03:16 In 2021, England witnessed the successful launch of another pioneering cancer treatment,
03:22 SCO.
03:23 This therapy revolutionized breast cancer treatment times, reducing them to mere minutes
03:28 and achieving rapid adoption within the NHS.
03:31 The introduction of the 7-minute cancer treatment injection adds to England's impressive track
03:36 record of embracing cutting-edge medical innovations to improve patient outcomes and experiences.
03:42 In conclusion, the world's first 7-minute cancer treatment injection is poised to reshape
03:47 cancer care in England, offering hope and convenience to patients while allowing healthcare
03:51 teams to provide efficient and effective treatment.
03:54 This remarkable achievement marks a significant leap forward in the fight against cancer and
03:59 sets a promising precedent for healthcare innovation worldwide.
04:02 [MUSIC PLAYING]

Recommended