NHS Rolls Out One-Minute Injection for Key Cancer Drug, Cutting Treatment Time

Previously, the drug required an intravenous drip that took up to two hours in a hospital setting. The rollout applies to 14 types of cancer, including breast, lung, and cervical. About 14,000 patients in England start pembrolizumab treatment each year, with most expected to switch to the injection form.

The drug, produced by the US pharmaceutical company MSD, helps the immune system detect and attack cancer cells by blocking the PD-1 protein. It has been available on the NHS since 2015, initially for advanced melanoma, and has since expanded to additional cancer types.

Shirley Xerxes, a patient from St Albans in Hertfordshire, was among the first to receive the new injection at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. Sources differ on her age, with one report stating 89 and another 86. She described the process as taking only minutes, allowing more time for activities like gardening.

“I was really happy to try out this new way of getting my treatment. I can’t believe how little time it took. I was only in the chair for a matter of minutes instead of an hour or more.”

Another patient, Claire Pearson, 52, who is undergoing treatment for melanoma, noted that the previous infusion required taking half a day off work. She said the injection would reduce time spent in hospitals and have a positive psychological impact by allowing more normal daily life.

The injection is given every three or six weeks by healthcare staff, still requiring hospital visits but enabling quicker appointments. Hospital pharmacy teams previously prepared intravenous bags under sterile conditions, a process now eliminated, saving staff time.

The drug more than doubles survival times for some cancers, such as advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Professor Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, stated that the rapid jab would make therapy quicker and more convenient, freeing up appointments and reducing exhaustion for patients.

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, highlighted the importance of quick treatment based on his experience as a cancer survivor, noting it would save patients time and help clinicians care for more people.

“This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients and it’s fantastic that this new rapid jab can now take just a minute to deliver — meaning patients can get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair.”

John McNeill, oncology business unit director at MSD in the UK, said the new option administers in one minute every three weeks or two minutes every six weeks, enhancing patient experience and NHS productivity. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK, welcomed the development for speeding up treatment and freeing staff time.

Pembrolizumab is a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks PD-1, preventing cancer cells from evading the immune system. It is the third such immunotherapy drug available as an injection on the NHS, following a new form of nivolumab introduced last year. Global sales of Keytruda reached $30 billion in 2025, making it one of the world's top-selling prescription medicines.

The injectable form is similar to weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Mounjaro, delivered under the skin into the thigh or stomach. NHS England indicated the cost remains comparable to the intravenous version, though the deal with MSD is confidential. Patents on the original drug expire in 2028 in the US and 2031 in Europe, potentially allowing generic versions.

One source mentioned criticism in the US, where Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren accused MSD of using the injectable form to extend patent protection and shield from competition. MSD responded that the jab provides meaningful benefits by reducing administration time and easing pressure on resources.