Patients in England are set to receive groundbreaking cancer treatment in just seven minutes, making it the first of its kind globally, according to a report by The Guardian.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted approval for the National Health Service (NHS) to administer Atezolizumab, also known as Tecentriq, via a quick injection.
What is Atezolizumab?
Atezolizumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, is renowned for its ability to empower the immune system to locate and destroy cancer cells.
It is currently administered intravenously through an IV drip, a process that typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. With the new injection method, treatment times will be dramatically reduced, cutting drug treatment for some NHS cancer patients by up to 75 percent.
“Maintaining the best possible quality of life for cancer patients is vital, so the introduction of faster under-the-skin injections will make an important difference,” the report said, citing Prof Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national director for cancer.
The subcutaneous administration of Atezolizumab offers benefits such as reduced pain, increased patient comfort, ease of administration, and shorter treatment durations, as indicated by studies.
Moreover, this accelerated treatment comes at no additional cost due to an existing commercial agreement between the NHS and the drug’s manufacturer, Roche.
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