NHS launches ‘stop-smoking’ pill varenicline, a drug comparable to vapes

The NHS has announced the rollout of a newly approved version of the anti-smoking drug varenicline in England, a move that could help tens of thousands of smokers quit.

This daily pill, to be offered through NHS Stop Smoking Services, aims to support smokers by reducing cravings and blocking nicotine’s effects on the brain. 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.

“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,” Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, told the NHS Providers annual conference.

“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.”

The rollout of varenicline, available via collaboration with Teva UK, follows the withdrawal of the branded version, Champix, in 2021 due to safety concerns. The return of the drug, now as a generic approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, is part of broader NHS efforts to enhance patient options and increase cost savings for the health service, which already spends £2.5 billion annually treating smoking-related conditions.

“Prevention is better than cure. The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster, and save lives,” health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said.

“Taken alongside our tobacco and vapes bill, the government and NHS are building a healthy society to help power a healthy economy.”

In light of the NHS’s endorsement of varenicline, the latest findings in smoking cessation research underscore the importance of offering a broad range of quitting aids.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in June showed comparable effectiveness between varenicline and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, with both significantly outperforming placebo treatments. Conducted in Finland with 561 daily smokers, the study revealed a self-reported 7-day abstinence rate of 43.8 per cent among varenicline users, closely matched by the 40.4 per cent abstinence rate in participants using nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. These rates starkly contrast with the 19.7 per cent success rate observed in the placebo group, affirming both varenicline and nicotine vapes as effective options for smoking cessation.

A 2013 Cochrane overview and network meta-analysis concluded that varenicline is the most effective medication for tobacco cessation.

The introduction of varenicline alongside other cessation aids has been welcomed by industry voices. Markus Lindblad, a nicotine retail expert at Haypp.com, applauded the NHS’s move but emphasised the need for diverse options in cessation tools.

“Making Varenicline available through the NHS will help thousands of people to kick the smoking habit and bring the UK a step closer to becoming smoke-free,” Lindblad said.

“Unfortunately, this pill is not a silver bullet for smoking and it will not work for everyone, and so a variety of support options are still necessary to help people quit smoking. To have the best chance of achieving a smoke-free UK, the NHS should continue to make a wide range of smoking cessation tools available for people trying to quit smoking, including smoke-free nicotine products.”