Subcutaneous Value: Efficiency and Access

EP: 1.The Shifting to Subcutaneous Oncology: Recent FDA Approvals

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EP: 2.Subcutaneous Value: Efficiency and Access

The discussion continues with an emphasis on the practical value that SubQ formulations bring to oncology practices and patients, particularly through time savings. One panelist highlighted how time has become a central metric in oncology care, from chair time to infusion length. SubQ therapies significantly reduce treatment times, especially for medications that traditionally required long intravenous (IV) infusions. For example, transitioning from a 4-hour IV administration to a 10-minute SubQ injection represents a substantial gain in efficiency for both patients and providers.

While not all time savings are equally dramatic—some infusions may only be shortened by 20 to 25 minutes—the cumulative effect across many patients is significant. For widely used immunotherapies such as nivolumab, atezolizumab, and the upcoming subcutaneous formulation of pembrolizumab, the time saved becomes substantial at a system level. These efficiencies can help reduce bottlenecks in high-volume oncology clinics, improve patient throughput, and optimize the use of existing resources without compromising care quality.

Another key benefit of this shift is its potential to alleviate systemic challenges, particularly staffing shortages. With nursing shortages becoming more acute across oncology practices, being able to treat patients more quickly and with fewer staff interventions per treatment is critical. SubQ formulations enable faster patient turnover, increasing access for new patients and reducing wait times. Ultimately, this transformation in drug delivery offers a practical path toward making oncology care more scalable and sustainable in the face of rising demand and limited human resources.