Concierge oncology · United Kingdom
Cancer immunotherapy in the UK, by a consultant medical oncologist.
Checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T, bispecifics, ADCs and cancer vaccines — the whole immuno-oncology map, mapped to your diagnosis, your biomarkers and either the NICE / CDF route or a private prescription.
Why patients choose us
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A consultant medical oncologist, not a clinic list
A named oncologist who prescribes checkpoint inhibitors every week — not a triage nurse and not a general physician.
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NICE, CDF and Blueteq — all in one conversation
We map your indication to the NICE TA, the CDF pathway or the private route, and tell you what the private prescription actually costs.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private immunotherapy costs in the UK.
Indicative per-cycle ranges across our partner oncology centres. NHS access through NICE / CDF / Blueteq is fully funded — we tell you which route applies.
In short
A pembrolizumab or nivolumab cycle privately: £8,000–£14,000, given every three weeks.
| Regimen | Indicative range | Typical duration | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab / nivolumab) per cycle | £8,000–£14,000 | 30–60 min IV | 3 weekly |
| Anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab / durvalumab) per cycle | £4,000–£9,000 | 30–60 min IV | 3–4 weekly |
| Ipilimumab + nivolumab combination per cycle | £15,000–£25,000 | 90 min IV | 3 weekly x4, then maintenance |
| Bispecific (teclistamab / glofitamab) step-up | £12,000–£20,000 per cycle | Inpatient step-up | Weekly then 2–4 weekly |
| CAR-T (single infusion, tariff) | £280,000–£380,000 | Apheresis + infusion | Single infusion |
| Consultant oncology review | £300–£500 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by centre, drug indication, cycle length and whether the patient is on monotherapy or a combination. CAR-T is delivered only at JACIE-accredited centres and always requires MDT approval. We come back with a firm figure and a funding route within one working day.
The problem
The right drug, the right access route, the right safety net.
Immuno-oncology moves fast — the 2026 UK landscape has more than thirty licensed products across eight drug classes. Working out which one applies to your case, whether NICE or the CDF funds it, and where to be treated is genuinely difficult.
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Not sure which drug is licensed?
PD-L1, MSI-H, TMB and HER2 all change the answer. We map biomarkers to the licensed indication for your tumour type.
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NICE, CDF or private?
Most licensed indications are funded on the NHS via NICE or the Cancer Drugs Fund with Blueteq authorisation. We explain the route in plain English.
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Worried about the side effects?
Immune-related adverse events are different from chemotherapy — we set up baseline bloods, monitoring and a 24-hour hotline before the first infusion.
The journey
From diagnosis to surveillance — what happens, in order.
One oncologist from first review to survivorship — including the lifelong irAE surveillance plan.
Phase 1 · Before treatment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · First cycle
A few hours in a day unit
Phase 3 · Cycles + surveillance
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us the diagnosis
A short, confidential form. Tumour type, stage, biomarkers (PD-L1, MSI-H/dMMR, TMB, HER2), previous treatment, and whether you are NHS or self-pay.
- 02
Before
We match drug to indication
Within one working day: which checkpoint inhibitor, bispecific, CAR-T or ADC is licensed for your case in the UK, and whether NICE / CDF funds it.
- 03
Before
We arrange the oncology review
A consultant medical oncologist reviews your scans and pathology. Baseline bloods, TFTs, troponin and cortisol are booked before the first cycle.
- 04
First cycle
First infusion in a day unit
Usually 30 to 60 minutes IV, in a monitored oncology day unit. First cycle is watched closely; subsequent cycles are quicker.
- 05
First cycle
Home the same afternoon
Most patients drive home after the first infusion. Written irAE guidance and a 24-hour oncology hotline number go with you.
- 06
After
Cycles every 2–6 weeks
Cycles continue on schedule with pre-cycle bloods. Response scans at 8–12 weeks; treatment often continues for up to two years if working.
- 07
After
irAE surveillance for life
Endocrine, cardiac and pulmonary irAEs can appear months after the last dose. We hand over to your GP with a written monitoring plan.
Typical enquiry to first infusion: 1–3 weeks. Response scans at 8–12 weeks. Treatment for up to two years.
When it helps
The cancers immunotherapy treats in 2026.
The main licensed indications in the UK, plus the one red flag that turns a routine call into an emergency.
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Melanoma (adjuvant or advanced)
Stage III adjuvant pembrolizumab or nivolumab; advanced disease treated with ipi+nivo or nivo+relatlimab.
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NSCLC (adjuvant + advanced)
PD-L1 tested tumours; pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, cemiplimab, tislelizumab or durvalumab per stage and expression.
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Renal, bladder and urothelial cancers
Advanced RCC on ipi+nivo or pembro+axitinib; urothelial on avelumab maintenance or pembrolizumab.
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MSI-H / dMMR tumours (any site)
Endometrial, colorectal and other MSI-H cancers respond well to pembrolizumab or dostarlimab — biomarker-driven access.
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Haematological cancers (DLBCL, MM, ALL)
CAR-T (Yescarta, Kymriah, Carvykti, Aucatzyl) and bispecifics (glofitamab, teclistamab, epcoritamab) for relapsed disease.
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Head & neck, cervical and TNBC
Recurrent/metastatic H&N SCC, cervical and triple-negative breast cancers with PD-L1-positive tumours.
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Rare tumours (Merkel, cSCC, mesothelioma)
Avelumab for Merkel cell, cemiplimab for cutaneous SCC, ipi+nivo for mesothelioma — small trials, big responses.
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Red flag: new breathlessness or chest pain
Pneumonitis and myocarditis are irAE emergencies — call the 24-hour oncology line the same day, not a routine appointment.
Drug classes
Eight classes of cancer immunotherapy, in plain English.
What each family of drugs actually does, and the UK-licensed products in each — from the household names to the 2024–2026 launches.
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Anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), cemiplimab (Libtayo), dostarlimab (Jemperli), tislelizumab (Tevimbra) — the workhorses of solid-tumour immunotherapy.
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Anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq), durvalumab (Imfinzi), avelumab (Bavencio) — often paired with chemotherapy or targeted agents.
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Anti-CTLA-4 and anti-LAG-3
Ipilimumab (Yervoy) and tremelimumab (Imjudo) release T-cell brakes; relatlimab (Opdualag with nivolumab) targets LAG-3 in melanoma.
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Combination checkpoint therapy
Ipi+nivo (melanoma, RCC, mesothelioma, MSI-H CRC, NSCLC); durva+treme (HCC, NSCLC); nivo+relatlimab (melanoma). Higher response, higher irAE risk.
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CAR-T cellular therapy
Tisagenlecleucel, axi-cel, brexu-cel, liso-cel, ide-cel, cilta-cel and Aucatzyl (2024 UK-first BCMA CAR-T) — one-shot living drugs for DLBCL, ALL, MCL and myeloma.
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Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs)
Blinatumomab (ALL), teclistamab / elranatamab / talquetamab (myeloma), glofitamab / epcoritamab (DLBCL/FL), mosunetuzumab (FL), tarlatamab (SCLC DLL3).
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Oncolytic virus and cancer vaccines
Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, Imlygic) for melanoma; personalised neoantigen mRNA vaccines (mRNA-4157 + pembrolizumab) currently in NICE review.
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Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu), sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy), enfortumab vedotin (Padcev), datopotamab deruxtecan — immune-target delivery of chemotherapy.
Our vetted UK oncology network
A small panel of medical oncologists, we picked them.
Consultant medical oncologists, JACIE-accredited CAR-T centres and clinical trial-active haematology units. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every oncologist in our network.
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Consultant medical oncologists prescribing checkpoint inhibitors weekly
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CAR-T and bispecific therapy delivered only in JACIE-accredited centres
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24-hour oncology hotline for immune-related adverse events
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Baseline TFTs, cortisol, troponin and lung function before first cycle
Safety and side effects
Immune-related adverse events — honestly.
Immunotherapy is one of the most effective advances in cancer care of the last decade — but its side effects are different from chemotherapy, sometimes irreversible, and occasionally life-threatening. Knowing what to watch for is the difference.
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Immune-related adverse events (irAEs)
Any organ can be affected — skin, gut, thyroid, pituitary, liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, joints and nerves. Most are grade 1–2 and respond to steroids; grade 3–4 need admission.
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Pneumonitis is the one that kills
New breathlessness, dry cough or a drop in oxygen saturation on a home probe — same-day CT and IV methylprednisolone. Do not wait for the next clinic.
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Myocarditis is rare but often fatal
Baseline and periodic troponin monitoring is now standard. Chest pain, palpitations or breathlessness after a checkpoint inhibitor is a same-day A&E visit.
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Endocrine irAEs are often permanent
Thyroiditis, hypophysitis, adrenal insufficiency and immune-mediated type 1 diabetes usually mean lifelong hormone replacement — not a reason to stop treatment.
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Colitis is the commonest ipi+nivo toxicity
More than three loose stools above baseline is grade 2 — hold the drug, start prednisolone. Steroid-refractory colitis is treated with infliximab or vedolizumab.
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CAR-T brings CRS and ICANS
Cytokine release syndrome (fever, hypotension) and immune-effector-cell-associated neurotoxicity — managed inpatient with tocilizumab, steroids and supportive care.
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Secondary cancers — an FDA signal (2024)
A small, real signal of secondary T-cell malignancies after CAR-T. Discussed at consent; monitored lifelong; benefit still outweighs risk in relapsed disease.
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Cost and access — NICE, CDF, Blueteq
NHS access runs through the NICE TA, the Cancer Drugs Fund and Blueteq authorisation. Private prescription is £10–20k per cycle for most ICIs.
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Red flags after any dose
Breathlessness, chest pain, severe diarrhoea, jaundice, a new severe headache or unusual fatigue — call the 24-hour oncology hotline, not your GP.
Reading your treatment plan
Your oncology plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever agent is chosen, the plan the oncologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Oncology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the plan before your first cycle, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis, biomarkers and line of therapy
Tumour type, stage, PD-L1 CPS/TPS, MSI status, TMB, HER2 and previous treatment lines — the four inputs that decide which agent is licensed.
- 02 Regimen
Drug, dose, schedule and duration
The chosen agent (pembrolizumab, ipi+nivo, teclistamab, etc.), dose, cycle length, maximum duration and whether it is monotherapy or a combination.
- 03 Monitoring
Baseline bloods and irAE surveillance plan
Baseline TFTs, cortisol, troponin, LFTs, glucose and lung function; the pre-cycle blood set; and the imaging schedule for response assessment.
- 04 Impression
Access route, cost and safety-net contact
Read this first: NHS via NICE/CDF, private self-pay per cycle, and the 24-hour oncology number for any irAE symptom.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Private insurance cover for immunotherapy varies by insurer, tumour type and whether the drug is NICE-approved. Most policies fund licensed indications with pre-authorisation — we confirm cover in writing before the first cycle.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about cancer immunotherapy.
Quick answers on funding, side effects, cycle length and when to call the oncology hotline.
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What is cancer immunotherapy?
A group of treatments that use your own immune system to attack cancer. It covers checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab), CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines and antibody-drug conjugates. It is not chemotherapy and it works very differently — including its side effects.
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Is immunotherapy funded on the NHS?
Yes, for most licensed indications, via the NICE technology appraisal (TA) route or the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) with Blueteq authorisation. Access depends on tumour type, stage and biomarkers (PD-L1, MSI-H/dMMR, TMB). We map your case to the correct funding route within one working day.
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How much does private immunotherapy cost in the UK?
Roughly £8,000–£14,000 per cycle for pembrolizumab or nivolumab; £4,000–£9,000 for atezolizumab or durvalumab; £15,000–£25,000 for ipilimumab + nivolumab combinations. CAR-T is a single infusion at a tariff of £280,000–£380,000. Bispecifics for haematological cancers run £12,000–£20,000 per cycle.
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How is it given?
Most checkpoint inhibitors are IV infusions of 30–60 minutes every 2–6 weeks in an oncology day unit. Newer subcutaneous formulations of atezolizumab and nivolumab are now available. CAR-T is a single infusion after apheresis. Bispecifics start with inpatient step-up dosing.
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What are immune-related adverse events (irAEs)?
Immunotherapy can inflame any organ. Common: rash, thyroid dysfunction, colitis, hepatitis. Serious: pneumonitis, myocarditis, hypophysitis, type 1 diabetes, Guillain-Barré. Most are managed with steroids; some are irreversible. Any new breathlessness, chest pain or severe diarrhoea after a dose is a same-day call to the oncology hotline.
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How long does immunotherapy treatment last?
Adjuvant checkpoint inhibitors are usually given for 12 months. Advanced-disease treatment is often continued for up to two years or until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. CAR-T is a single infusion. Bispecifics are given until progression or toxicity.
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Will immunotherapy work for my cancer?
It depends on tumour type and biomarkers. Melanoma, NSCLC, RCC, MSI-H tumours, Hodgkin lymphoma and Merkel cell cancer respond well. PD-L1, MSI/dMMR and TMB testing on tumour tissue guides the decision. Response rates range from 15% (some solid tumours) to over 80% (Hodgkin, MSI-H).
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What is CAR-T and who is it for?
CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy) is a one-shot living drug for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and multiple myeloma. UK-licensed products include Kymriah, Yescarta, Tecartus, Breyanzi, Abecma, Carvykti and Aucatzyl (the first UK-developed BCMA CAR-T, 2024).
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When should I call the oncology hotline?
Same-day for: new breathlessness or a drop in home oximetry, chest pain or palpitations, more than four loose stools above baseline, jaundice, a new severe headache, extreme fatigue or dizziness on standing. Do not wait for your next clinic appointment — irAEs escalate quickly.
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Gene therapy
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Haematology treatment
Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma pathways.
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All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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