The RUH in Bath now offers a pembrolizumab jab that takes around five minutes, against at least 30 for an infusion. It can treat 14 cancer types.

Some cancer patients at the Royal United Hospital in Bath can now have their immunotherapy as a jab that takes around five minutes. The same drug, pembrolizumab, takes at least 30 minutes when it is given as an infusion.

The hospital says that means many patients can spend less time there. It also says the switch lets more patients be treated on its Medlock Unit.

The injection is being rolled out nationally, and the RUH says it is among the first hospitals to offer it. Details are in the hospital’s media release of 5 November.

“Less stressed by the experience”

According to the hospital, both patients and nurses prefer the jab to the infusion, and patients report fewer side effects too.

Jo Parkes smiling in black pharmacy scrubs in a hospital corridor
Jo Parkes, the RUH's Pharmacy Clinical Lead for Cancer Services. Photo: supplied by the Royal United Hospital

Jo Parkes is the RUH’s Pharmacy Clinical Lead for Cancer Services. She said: “It’s great that we’re now able to offer many of our cancer patients this option for treatment.

“The feedback we’ve had from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. People really appreciate how quickly the injection can be given compared with an infusion and that they now spend less time in hospital overall.

“Patients have told us they feel less stressed by the experience and how it’s freed up more of their time for important day to day activities, like getting back to work and parents being able to make the school run.”

Shannon Nally smiling in black pharmacy scrubs in a hospital clinical area
Shannon Nally, Specialist Cancer Services Pharmacist at the RUH. Photo: supplied by the Royal United Hospital

Shannon Nally, Specialist Cancer Services Pharmacist, said: “This really is fantastic news for so many of our cancer patients and I’m delighted that the RUH is one of the first hospitals to be offering this treatment, it reflects our commitment to consistently delivering the highest quality care for the people we care for.”

A hand holding a small glass vial with a green cap, labelled Keytruda 790 mg, pembrolizumab, for subcutaneous use
A vial of the injection, labelled Keytruda 790 mg, pembrolizumab, for subcutaneous use. Photo: supplied by the Royal United Hospital

How the jab works

Pembrolizumab is a type of immunotherapy. It triggers immune cells to recognise and kill cancer cells.

The hospital explains that the drug blocks a protein called PD-1. That protein acts as a brake on immune responses, so blocking it releases the immune system to attack the cancer.

The jab can be used for 14 different cancer types, the hospital says. They include:

  • lung
  • breast
  • head and neck
  • cervical

What it means for you

The hospital describes the jab as being for “some” and “many” of its cancer patients, not all of them. Its release does not say how many patients at the RUH are having it so far, or when the first doses were given.

Macmillan Cancer Support has a page on pembrolizumab and how it is given. The hospital’s release points readers there for more information.

Where the treatment fits at the RUH

The team in the photograph supports patients in the hospital’s Dyson Cancer Centre. The RUH describes the centre as a hub for over 500,000 people in the South West. It brings together:

  • oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services
  • a 22-bed inpatient ward
  • a dedicated pharmacy
  • research, nuclear medicine and physics teams

The centre also has a three-storey Macmillan Wellbeing Hub, a non-clinical space for patients and their families. It includes accommodation where relatives can stay overnight.

Earlier this week we reported on the £495,000 refurbishment of part of the RUH’s Children’s Outpatients, which is used mainly by children having cancer treatment.