Largest ever trial on quitting smoking meds shows promise of Pfizer's Champix

Pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has welcomed new data supporting its drug Champix (varenicline) as an effective aid to giving up smoking.

Data has been published in The Lancet from the largest ever randomized clinical trial of approved smoking cessation medicines, entitled EAGLES - Evaluating Adverse Events in a Global Smoking Cessation Study. The trial compared the neuropsychiatric safety and efficacy of varenicline and bupropion to placebo and nicotine patch to help people give up the habit.

Results demonstrated the use of varenicline or bupropion in patients with or without a history of psychiatric disorder is not associated with an increased risk of serious neuropsychiatric adverse events.