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Groundbreaking new ‘rapid’ jab to treat 14 different cancer types now available on NHS

The new jab can be administered in just one minute.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 7th May 2026

A groundbreaking new ‘rapid’ cancer jab that can be administered in just 60 seconds is now available on the NHS.

It’s hoped that tens of thousands of patients on the NHS could benefit from the new immunotherapy jab – which is an injectable form of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) – as it can slash the time the treatment takes by up to 90%, helping people spend less time in hospital while also improving the health service’s productivity.

The jab can be used to treat 14 different types of cancer, including lung, breast, head and neck, and cervical cancers.

Put simply, it works by triggering immune cells to recognise and kill cancer cells.

The new under-the-skin injection replaces an intravenous (IV) infusion – which can take up to two hours in total, per session – sparing patients ‘unnecessary’ time in treatment units and freeing up capacity for clinicians to see and treat more people.

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The treatment will be given every three weeks as a one-minute injection, or every six weeks as a two-minute injection, depending on an individual’s cancer type.

Currently, around 14,000 patients start pembrolizumab therapy each year in England, and most are now expected to benefit from this more-convenient treatment.

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Speaking on the rollout of the new jab this week, Professor Peter Johnson, who is the NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: “This immunotherapy offers a lifeline for thousands of patients and it’s fantastic that this new rapid jab can now take just a minute to deliver, meaning patients can get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair.

“Managing cancer treatment and regular hospital trips can be really exhausting.

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“Not only will this innovation make therapy much quicker and more convenient for patients, it will also help free up vital appointments for NHS teams to treat more people and continue to bring down waiting times”.

Featured Image – NappyStudio (via Unsplash)

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2027 Manchester Marathon sells out in record time after biggest event ever

Danny Jones Danny Jones Next year's Manchester Marathon already sold out in record time

The 2027 adidas Manchester Marathon has already sold out in record time after the biggest event in the race’s history.

Incredible stuff.

Yes, after more than 42,000 runners took on this year’s 26.2-mile challenge – the highest number to date – public places for next year’s Manchester Marathon have gone in the blink of an eye.

To be specific, they were snapped up in just 10 days: even faster than the last time around, with 2026 having also broken the previous fastest (or PB, if you will) time before that.

Posting on social media, the organisers wrote: “We’re blown away by the response as a record-breaking number of public places were secured during our launch window, and we’re now officially at capacity.

“Thank you for the amazing support. We can’t wait to help you turn your 26.2 dreams into reality.”

They also went on to remind people that even if they missed out, potential participants can still secure a place through their official charity partners.

Manchester Marathon maintains annual partnerships with the likes of Alzheimer’s Society, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Mind, and The Christie Charity.

Teaming up with numerous non-profit organisations over the decades after it first began way back in 1908, before enjoying multiple stints during the 1980s and late 90s into the noughties, huge sums have been raised over the years.

It’s never anything less than a heartwarming and inspiring day.

The modern MCR Marathon, as we know it, returned in its present format nearly a decade and a half ago, beginning its current collaboration with sportswear giants adidas, therefore helping raise the profile even further, with the 2026 fundraising tally also reaching a record-breaking £5.2 million this past April.

At the moment, the Manchester Marathon maintains annual partnerships with the likes of Alzheimer’s Society, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Mind, and The Christie Charity.

Once again, these organisations, along with the likes of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and many more, will continue to offer charity places for the 2027 Manchester Marathon, provided you can hit the fundraising total.

We don’t know about you, but we’re loving this city and the surrounding boroughs being well and truly in their running era, and we also urge all of you who make up part of the local culture to immerse yourself in all aspects – especially when it comes to the post-race season party…

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Supplied (via ASO UK)

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Beloved Greater Manchester tourist attraction left devastated after deliberate act of ‘mindless’ vandalism

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A beloved heritage tourist attraction in Greater Manchester has been left devastated after being attacked in a deliberate act of ‘mindless’ vandalism.

East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has revealed that it has, once again, been the victim of what it is referring to as a ‘deliberate and disgraceful’ act of vandalism overnight over May bank holiday weekend, where a locomotive and several coaches from the InterCity 125 heritage set were ‘targeted’.

In what can only be described as a ‘mindless attack’, extensive graffiti was plastered across rolling stock.

“One coach had only just been repainted in February, making this damage particularly galling,” ELR said in a gutting statement.

East Lancashire Railway has been left devastated after deliberate act of ‘mindless’ vandalism / Credit: ELR (Supplied)

Staff and volunteers working on the heritage railway claim this incident was ‘not opportunistic behaviour’ and was, in fact, a ‘calculated act of destruction’ against irreplaceable heritage assets cared for by volunteers.

Once the vandalism was discovered, volunteers immediately stepped in and worked tirelessly for several hours using specialist cleaning materials to remove the graffiti before it could permanently set.

Although further polishing and restoration work is still required, ELR says the volunteers’ swift action prevented what could have been ‘significant and lasting’ damage.

The beloved heritage tourist attraction called it ‘a calculated act of destruction’ / Credit: ELR (Supplied)

“This is a disgraceful and deeply frustrating attack on a railway run largely by volunteers, with many steam and diesel traction owned either by the ELR or groups and in some cases, private individuals who give their time freely to preserve our railway,” commented Mike Kelly, who is the Chairman of the East Lancashire Railway.

“It is nothing short of a kick in the teeth for those who work so hard to maintain and preserve historic traction and rolling stock.

“We are working closely with the police and are determined to see those responsible identified and held accountable.”

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Greater Manchester Police attended the scene, gathered evidence, but anyone with any information about those responsible is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Featured Image – ELR (Supplied)

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