April 22, 2008 - Pfizer Inc announced that on May 8, 2008, it will launch Champix® Tablet 0.5mg/1mg (varenicline tartrate), a novel smoking cessation aid for smokers with nicotine dependence in Japan, which has one of the highest rates of smoking among developed nations. Champix was developed as the first non-nicotine drug designed for smoking cessation in the United States and will be the first oral smoking cessation aid available in Japan. The currently available smoking cessation aids such as ‘Nicotine Replacement Therapy’ (NRT) relieve withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation by replacing tobacco use through delivering nicotine. In contrast, Champix brings about a smoking cessation effect through a new mechanism of action which works by selectively targeting the α4β2 nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce both craving and withdrawal symptoms and reduce the pleasure associated with smoking... Pfizer's Press Release -
