Pfizer: New studies prove antismoking drug effectiveness

Pfizer has announced the results of three “pivotal” studies for its recent smoking cessation drug, Chantix.

The results show that approximately 44 per cent of patients treated with Chantix twice a day had quit smoking after 12 weeks, in comparison to 30 per cent who used bupropion SR (marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Zyban or Wellbutrin) and 18 per cent who used a placebo.

In another study of patients who managed to quit smoking after 12 weeks of using Chantix, some were given a placebo for an additional 12 weeks, while others received Chantix over the same perioud of time. By 24 weeks, 70.5 per cent of Chantix patients managed to refrain from smoking, compared to 50 per cent taking the placebo.

Dr Joseph Feczko, Pfizer’s chief medical officer, commented: “According to the World Health Organisation, every eight seconds a person dies of a smoking-related disease – almost as quickly as someone else takes up smoking for the first time.”

“Chantix represents a significant new discovery for smokers who are trying to quit,” he added.

Chantix works by partially stimulating the nicotinic receptors, reducing the craving for smoking. Because of the drug’s action, people who smoke while using the drug are likely to experience diminished satisfaction from their cigarettes.

Anti-smoking group Ash states that approximately 12 million Britons still smoke – 28 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women. Some 450 children start smoking every day and 114,000 people die each year as a consequence of smoking, the campaign group adds.

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