From next June, the National Health Service (NHS) in England will introduce the subcutaneous injection Nivolumab (Opdivo) to treat 15 types of cancer, making the UK the first European country to use this injection.

Nivolumab is a cancer treatment drug that uses immunotherapy by blocking a protein that prevents the immune system from working properly, while attacking cancer cells and helping the immune system find and destroy cancer cells.

Previously, Nivolumab was used in cancer treatment via intravenous infusion for 30-60 minutes. But with subcutaneous injection, it only takes 3-5 minutes.

NHS England says the Nivolumab injection will save doctors around 1,000 hours a month of time treating cancer patients. The NHS typically treats around 1,200 patients with various cancers.

Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said the new treatment could be used for 15 types of cancer, including lung, bowel, kidney, bladder, oesophageal, skin, head and neck cancers.

The use of Nivolumab injections frees up valuable clinician time, allowing more patients to be treated and increasing hospital capacity.

This fast-acting and effective treatment is delivering significant advances in cancer treatment and improving the lives of thousands of patients every month, says clinical pharmacist and national specialist advisor for cancer drugs, James Richardson.