Innovative vaccine accelerates cancer treatment for UK patients

Thousands of National Health Service (NHS) patients in England will have access to a revolutionary cancer vaccine that allows immunotherapy to be administered in less than five minutes.

This innovative injection, based on the drug nivolumab, promises to transform cancer care and relieve pressure on hospital services.

According to the Daily Mail, this new formulation can be administered biweekly or monthly, in contrast to the current intravenous treatment, which can last up to an hour.

The injection has been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after clinical trials demonstrated comparable efficacy to the traditional method, with similar side effects.

It is estimated that around 1,200 patients per month could benefit from the new method, which is indicated for treating up to 15 different types of cancer, including skin, bowel, kidney, lung, bladder, stomach, head and neck cancers, among others.

In addition to the clinical benefit, the implementation of this vaccine represents a significant relief for the British healthcare system, as it will optimize human and logistical resources.

The treatment administration reduces the need for rooms equipped for intravenous therapy and decreases the time patients spend in the hospital.

The measure comes in a worrying context : cases of cancer such as skin and bowel cancer are increasing in people under 50 , a trend that has baffled the international medical community.

Possible causes include modern lifestyles, diet, and exposure to chemicals.

Nivolumab, the drug used, is a monoclonal antibody that acts on T lymphocytes, preventing cancer cells from deactivating them and allowing the immune system to destroy the tumor.

It is estimated that two out of five patients currently receiving intravenous treatment will be able to switch to this new injectable formulation at no additional cost to the NHS, thanks to an agreement with the manufacturer Bristol Myers Squibb.

On the other hand, experts point out that this innovation could be just the beginning of a broader transformation in the approach to cancer. Ongoing research is exploring new immunotherapy formulations that could be further personalized based on the genetic profile of each patient's tumor.

The NHS has created a new blood test powered by artificial intelligence that can detect up to 12 common types of cancer in their early stages.

The test will initially be applied to 8,000 patients and analyzes small fragments of tumor genetic material in blood , which could revolutionize early detection of the disease.

The fight against cancer is advancing, and the United Kingdom is positioning itself as a pioneer in accessing faster, less invasive, and potentially more effective treatments .

With information from Daily Mail.

ANGELA MARÍA PÁEZ RODRÍGUEZ - SCHOOL OF MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EL TIEMPO.