Cancer patients are set to benefit from a new 60-second immunotherapy jab.
The treatment, now being offered at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), is an injectable form of pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy that was previously only available through intravenous (IV) infusion, which could take up to two hours per session.
The new rapid injection takes just one to two minutes, reducing treatment time by up to 90 per cent and freeing up hospital resources.
Dr Grant Stewart, consultant clinical oncologist, said: "The introduction of quicker administration is delivering real benefits for our patients, helping us streamline care while continuing to prioritise appointments based on individual clinical need.
"We have already seen excellent patient satisfaction and reduced treatment time with subcutaneous Atezolizumab and Nivolumab, and we are delighted to now offer the same faster, more convenient experience to patients receiving pembrolizumab."
The injection could benefit up to 200 patients each year at RCHT.
Pembrolizumab is used to treat 14 different types of cancer, including lung, breast, head and neck, and cervical cancers, by stimulating the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
Depending on the type of cancer being treated, the injection is given either every three weeks as a one-minute dose or every six weeks as a two-minute dose.
The new approach also reduces the preparation burden on hospital pharmacy teams.
Unlike IV infusions, which require preparation under specialist sterile conditions, the subcutaneous injection is much simpler to prepare and administer.
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