The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended an immunotherapy to treat advanced head and neck cancer for use on the NHS in England.
In final draft guidance, published on 24 March 2026, NICE approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda; MSD), an IV infusion for patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC).
Commenting on the recommendation, a spokesperson for MSD said it was the “first time a new treatment option has shown improved outcomes above the standard of care in LA HNSCC in over 20 years, and is the first recommended perioperative immunotherapy for LA HNSCC in the UK”.
NICE recommended the treatment for use before surgery, after surgery with radiotherapy and with or without chemotherapy.
Head and neck cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the UK, with 12,800 new cases annually.
Of all head and neck cancers, 90% of these are squamous cell carcinomas, which means they develop from epithelial cells that line areas of the head and neck, such as the mouth, throat and voice box.
Standard treatments for the head and neck cancer include surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
Tamara Kahn, chair of the Head and Neck Coalition, a group of 15 members comprising charities, support groups, healthcare associations and other stakeholders, said: “This recommendation is an important moment for people living with head and neck cancer in England. Treatment can be gruelling, and many people are left dealing with lasting challenges in speaking, eating and everyday interaction long after treatment ends.

For the head and neck cancer community, this brings real hope, not just in treating the cancer but in the possibility that fewer people may face the most severe long-term effects after treatment.”

Full article: https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/newly-approved-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment-improves-care-for-first-time-in-more-than-20-years