UHBW one of the first NHS Trusts to roll-out new rapid one-minute cancer jab for patients

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), which is part of Bristol NHS Group, is one of the first hospital trusts in the UK to deliver a new injectable form of Pembrolizumab at Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC).

The injection can be administered in one to two minutes and can be used to treat 14 different cancer types, including lung, head and neck, breast, and cervical and follows the roll-out of nivolumab, another injectable form of immunotherapy, at UHBW last year.

This new under-the-skin injection replaces an IV infusion which takes around two hours per session.

Immunotherapy treatments such as Pembrolizumab are given over longer timeframes than chemotherapy programmes, lasting typically 1-2 years. It is designed to stimulate an immune response from the body against tumour cells. 

Currently, hospital pharmacy teams need to carefully prepare the intravenous bags in specialist clean rooms, which can be time-consuming for NHS staff. Moving to the ready-to-administer subcutaneous injection both removes this preparation and frees up vital clinic time and space.

In total, the NHS estimates that the switch is expected to save more than 100,000 hours of preparation and treatment time per year, equivalent to around 11 years, meaning hospitals will free up vital capacity in pharmacy and cancer clinics, allowing teams to focus on preparing and delivering a greater number of more complex cancer therapies.

The treatment is given every three weeks as a one-minute injection or every six weeks as a two-minute injection.

Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance Clinical Director and Consultant Medical Oncologist at UHBW, Helen Winter said

“Delivering subcutaneous immunotherapy closer to home is a significant step forward for patients. It reduces the need for repeated and prolonged hospital visits while maintaining high-quality care. This approach aligns with the National Cancer Plan for England, which highlights the importance of shifting more cancer treatment into community and home settings. We’re grateful to the whole team involved and especially to our patients, whose feedback has helped shape this new way of delivering care.”

Director of Pharmacy at UHBW, Jon Standing said“

These new forms of subcutaneous immunotherapy allow hospital pharmacy services to focus on manufacturing and preparing other forms of cancer therapies. This helps patients receive their cancer treatments as quickly as possible and follows the strategic approach of the NHS to increase the capacity to deliver cancer medicines.”

Trevor Garfield, recipient of the new form of treatment and patient at UHBW said

“The intravenous treatment I received before switching to the subcutaneous injection was delivered with great care and efficiency but my word! The new injection was delivered so swiftly that my visit to the hospital was completed in minutes! I was in, out and home before you could blink and I didn’t feel a thing. It was truly amazing!”