Cancer Patients in UK to Receive Immunotherapy Drugs via Single Injection for Faster Treatment

1. The UK has introduced a faster method of administering Nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug, via a 15-minute injection, replacing the traditional hour-long intravenous (IV) drip.
2. This new method is aimed at providing quicker treatment for cancer patients.

About Immunotherapy

1. Definition: Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that utilizes the components of a person's immune system to fight diseases like cancer.
   1. Biological Therapy: Involves using substances derived from living organisms to target and treat cancer.
   2. Chemotherapy: In contrast, chemotherapy targets cancer cells directly but may also harm healthy cells.

How Immunotherapy Works

1. Stimulating the Immune System: Immunotherapy encourages the immune system to work harder or smarter in recognizing and attacking cancer cells (e.g., Immunomodulators).
2. Creating Immune System Components in a Lab: This method restores or enhances the immune system’s ability to find and destroy cancer cells (e.g., Monoclonal Antibodies).

Types of Immunotherapies

Advantages of Immunotherapy

1. Precise: Targets cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
2. Dynamic: The immune system can adapt, launching new attacks if a tumor evades detection.
3. Remembers: The immune system’s memory allows it to recognize and eliminate recurring cancer.

Disadvantages of Immunotherapy

1. Less Effective: It is less effective for tumors with immune suppression and immune exclusion due to high selectivity.
2. Variable Effectiveness: Its effectiveness varies, leading to uncertain patient survival rates and prognosis.

High Costs: Immunotherapy treatments are often expensive.