FDA gives green light to Pfizer drug for quitting smoking

Comments | AFP, May, 2006

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A drug made by Pfizer won approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by people quitting smoking.

Called Chantix, varenicline tartrate "acts at sites in the brain that are affected by nicotine and may help those who wish to give up smoking in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease the withdrawal symptoms, and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they resume smoking," an FDA statement said.

Bupropion, an antidepressant marketed under the brand names Wellbutrin and Zyban by GlaxoSmithKline, was the first medication the FDA approved for smoking cessation, back in 1997.

© 2006 AFP