The approval coincided with the announcement, allowing NHS services to prepare for the treatment's rollout.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer, emphasized that the injectable form enhances patient convenience and increases treatment capacity.

Clinical trials revealed high patient satisfaction with the jab, which can be administered in just 3-5 minutes, compared to the one-hour IV method.

Nivolumab, also known as Opdivo, works by blocking the PD-1 protein on T-cells, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to target and destroy cancer cells.

As the UK government prepares a National Cancer Plan, experts stress the need for continued innovation and support in cancer treatment.

In addition to the jab, the NHS is also trialing a new AI-based blood test to detect 12 common types of cancer, further advancing cancer care.

Thanks to a partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, the faster treatment will not impose additional costs on the NHS.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved this under-the-skin injection as an alternative to traditional intravenous infusions on April 30, 2025.

The NHS plans to begin administering this new jab to patients in May 2025, once supplies arrive in the UK.

The NHS has initiated the rollout of a new injectable immunotherapy, nivolumab, designed to treat various cancers, including skin, lung, and kidney cancers.

This innovative treatment is expected to save over a year's worth of collective treatment time for patients annually, thereby increasing hospital capacity.

Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton, a breast cancer patient herself, praised the jab as a significant advancement, highlighting its early availability in England compared to other European countries.