Originally published March 22 2005
Drug companies race to put nicotine-free stop-smoking pills on the market
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In the coming months, U.S. regulators can expect to be hearing from several drug companies wanting to start selling new smoking-cessation pills. A number of corporations say American consumers are as eager as ever for nicotine-free pills that will curb cigarette cravings. The companies are putting the final touches on developing such drugs, and they plan to apply for approval by FDA soon.
Pharmaceutical companies and researchers are hoping that new medications can do for smoking cessation what Viagra has done for erectile disfunction -- provide a viable treatment and make lots of money.
The Associated Press reported March 6 that researchers are eager to bring a nicotine-free smoking-cessation drug to market.
"It's the biggest addiction market there is," said Dr. Herbert D. Kleber, an addiction researcher at Columbia University.
"Is it realistic to be able to help addicts stop smoking and remain off with a pill?
I think the answer is yes and we're working on a number of them."
Phizer researchers, for example, have designed and are testing a drug called varenicline, which binds to nicotine receptors in the brain and blocks craving.
The drug is just one step away from being submitted to the FDA for approval.
"It's an unmet medical need," said Dr. Karen Reeves, director of clinical development for Pfizer.
"The morbidity and mortality rate is so high, and doctors and smokers really have not had enough in their armamentarium to help smokers stop smoking."
Rimonabant, another antismoking drug that works on the reward system in the brain, is being marketed as Acomplia by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Synthelabo, which intended to seek FDA approval this year.
NicVax, from Nabi Pharmaceuticals, is billed as an antismoking vaccine because it binds with and disables nicotine molecules in the body.
Ta-Nic, a similar drug from Xenova Group in England, is also under development.
The FDA approved buproprion, or Zyban, as an antismoking drug in 1997.
The drug seems to help some, but not all, smokers, and has not been a big seller.
"Everyone has been looking for the magic bullet," said Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends for the American Cancer Society.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml