7 September 2020 - The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has welcomed the approval by the Scottish Medicines Consortium of the immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, as a first-line NHS treatment for some patients with head and neck cancer.

Experts expect pembrolizumab to now completely replace the standard of care for the majority of NHS patients in Scotland – who are currently treated with chemotherapy.

But the ICR is concerned that the lack of a similar approval elsewhere in England, Wales or Northern Ireland could herald a ‘home nations lottery’ over cancer treatment.

Read Institute for Cancer Research press release