Pfizer: Data show Chantix provides smokers new tool to quit smoking

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, July 5 - Pfizer Inc. said Wednesday that Chantix (varenicline) was shown in three pivotal studies to be effective with a favorable safety profile as an aid to smoking cessation treatment.

Chantix, the first new prescription smoking cessation medication approved in nearly a decade, received Food and Drug Administration approval May 10, according to a company news release.

Chantix is expected to be available in U.S. pharmacies in August.

Because smokers need considerable support to successfully quit, Chantix will be available to patients with a support program designed to help address behavioral components of smoking dependence. This personalized program will be offered at no additional cost, officials said.

Data show that about 44% of patients treated with Chantix (1 mg twice a day) quit smoking by the end of the 12-week treatment period versus 30% who used buproprion SR (150 mg twice a day) and 18% who used a placebo, officials said.

In an additional phase 3 clinical trial, patients who remained smoke-free after 12 weeks of treatment with Chantix were randomized to receive an additional 12 weeks of treatment with Chantix or a placebo.

At the end of 24 weeks, 70.5% of patients on Chantix continued to abstain from smoking compared to 50% who switched to a placebo, officials said.

In trials, Chantix was generally well-tolerated with overall discontinuation rates similar to a placebo. The most frequent side effects included nausea, headache, trouble sleeping and changes in dreaming.

Results of the studies were published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pfizer is a New York pharmaceutical company.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.