Pfizer Japan gets marketing authorization for Champix

Champix is claimed to be Japan’s first oral smoking cessation aid developed for smoking cessation treatment. Current ‘nicotine replacement therapy’ relieves withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation by replacing tobacco with nicotine. Champix brings about a smoking cessation effect as a non-nicotine partial agonist that binds to nicotine receptors in the brain with strong affinity.

In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in Japanese smokers who wanted to quit smoking, the primary endpoint (the four consecutive-week smoking cessation rate between Week nine and Week 12) was 65.4% (85/130 cases) in patients receiving 1mg Champix twice-daily and 39.5% in the placebo group (51/129 cases) respectively, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

To successfully quit smoking, a combination of medical support and medication is said to be effective. Pfizer Japan believes that by introducing Champix, it will be able to help many nicotine dependent smokers quit smoking successfully, thus creating a healthier environment in Japan.