5th Jul 2006 07:00
Data Show CHANTIX(TM) (varenicline) Provides Smokers New Hope to Quit Smoking Studies Published in JAMA Show CHANTIX Significantly Increases Likelihood of Quitting Over Most Commonly Used Prescription Medication NEW YORK, July 4 -- CHANTIX(TM) (varenicline) was shown to beeffective with a favorable safety profile as an aid to smoking cessationtreatment, according to three pivotal studies published in this week's Journalof the American Medical Association. Chantix, the first new prescription smoking cessation medication approvedin nearly a decade, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval onMay 10. Chantix is expected to be available in U.S. pharmacies in August.Because smokers need considerable support to successfully quit, Chantix willbe available to patients with a support program designed to help addressbehavioral components of smoking dependence. This personalized program willbe offered at no additional cost and easy to use. "According to the World Health Organization, every eight seconds a persondies of a smoking-related disease -- almost as quickly as someone else takesup smoking for the first time," said Dr. Joseph Feczko, Pfizer's chief medicalofficer. "Chantix represents a significant new discovery for smokers who aretrying to quit." Data show that approximately 44 percent of patients treated with Chantix(1mg twice a day) quit smoking by the end of the 12-week treatment periodversus 30 percent who used buproprion SR (150mg twice a day) and 18 percentwho used placebo. In an additional phase III clinical trial, patients whoremained quit after 12 weeks of treatment with Chantix were randomized toreceive an additional 12 weeks of treatment with Chantix or placebo. At theend of 24 weeks, 70.5 percent of patients on Chantix continued to abstain fromsmoking compared to 50 percent who switched to placebo. In trials, Chantix was generally well tolerated with overalldiscontinuation rates similar to placebo. The most frequent side effectsincluded nausea, headache, trouble sleeping and changes in dreaming. In November 2005, Pfizer submitted a European marketing authorizationapplication for varenicline for smoking cessation. Pfizer spokespeople and clinical trial investigators will be madeavailable for one-on-one interviews. Patients and health care providers can visit www.chantix.com or call1-877-CHANTIX and register to receive more information about Chantix. Forprescribing information, please visit www.chantix.com. To request free broadcast-standard video please log ontowww.thenewsmarket.com/pfizer.SOURCE Pfizer 07/04/2006 /CONTACT: Shreya Prudlo of Pfizer, +1-212-733-4889, or cell,+1-917-743-4349/ /Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is availableimmediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiveror electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept overheadtransmissions. To retrieve a logo, please call 972-392-0888./ /Web site: http://www.pfizer.com/ (PFE)ENDPFIZER INCRelated Shares:
PFZ.L