Thousands of lives could be saved thanks to the roll-out of an improved anti-smoking pill on the NHS in England. Varenicline has been shown to work as well as vapes to help people stop smoking and be a more effective aid than nicotine-replacement gum or patches.
The daily pill is now set to be offered by the NHS to tens of thousands of smokers each year in England to provide another option to help them quit. The drug works by reducing cravings for nicotine and blocking its effect on the brain, while also helping with withdrawal symptoms such as feeling irritable or having difficulty sleeping.
When used alongside behavioural support, such as counselling, the treatment has been shown to help around one in four people to stop smoking for at least six months.
It is estimated the use of varenicline on the NHS could help over 85,000 people try to stop smoking each year and its use over the next five years could prevent up to 9,500 smoking-related deaths, according to research by University College London.
The drug will now provide an additional treatment option for patients in England through NHS Stop Smoking Services, and other potential options are on the near horizon with a second drug (cytisine) currently under review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The treatment is being made available through a collaboration between NHS England and pharmaceutical company Teva UK, who have agreed to provide a new generic version of the treatment to the NHS.
A branded version of the smoking cessation pill (Champix) was previously used but was withdrawn in 2021 as a precaution after an impurity was discovered – however the relaunched generic product has now been approved as safe by the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
In a speech at the NHS Providers annual conference, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: “This simple daily pill could be a game-changer for people who want to quit smoking and is another vital step in shifting our NHS further towards prevention
“Smoking remains one of the biggest public health issues facing the NHS and has devastating impacts on the body – from the lungs, to the heart, blood and brain, while also increasing risk of cancer, diabetes and stroke.
“Alongside supporting the Government’s ambition to create the first smoke-free generation, we are giving current smokers the tools they need to quit – with proven treatment options like this, alongside specialist care, helping to save thousands of lives and the NHS millions of pounds in treatment costs.”
