This approval has the potential to significantly reduce treatment durations by up to 75%.

United Kingdom: On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, England is set to introduce a groundbreaking advancement in cancer treatment on August 29, 2023. The country's state-run national health service will pioneer a revolutionary injection that targets cancer, offering a swift and efficient solution to hundreds of patients in England.

With the green light from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHS England is poised to administer this unique "under the skin" injection to eligible patients who are undergoing immunotherapy using atezolizumab. This move not only streamlines patient care but also maximizes the capacity of cancer care teams, allowing them to attend to a larger number of patients within a day.

Traditionally, atezolizumab, also recognized as Tecentriq and manufactured by Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche (ROG.S), was delivered intravenously through a drip, necessitating roughly 30 to 60 minutes per session. This method can be time-consuming and challenging due to vein accessibility issues.

The new injection method, as described by Marius Scholtz, Medical Director at Roche Products Limited, is remarkably efficient, taking a mere seven minutes—considerably shorter than the current intravenous infusion duration.

Atezolizumab, a cutting-edge immunotherapy developed by Genentech, empowers the patient's immune system to proactively locate and eradicate cancerous cells. The treatment is presently available to NHS patients grappling with various cancer types, such as lung, breast, liver, and bladder cancer.

NHS England anticipates that the majority of the approximately 3,600 yearly atezolizumab recipients in England will transition to the time-saving injection. However, patients who undergo intravenous chemotherapy in conjunction with atezolizumab may continue with the transfusion method.

This milestone marks a significant leap forward in cancer treatment, exemplifying England's commitment to enhancing patient care through innovation and efficiency.