New anti-smoking drug set for rapid NHS rollout

A daily pill that has been shown to double the chances of quitting smoking will launch in the UK next week, backed by £70 million ($89 million) in government funding for cessation programmes delivered through primary care.

Consilient Health’s cytisine 1.5 mg tablet product is prescription-only and is intended as a 25-day course that costs £115. It is a nicotine receptor partial agonist based on an alkaloid found in laburnum seeds that has been used for smoking cessation in Central and Eastern Europe for decades.

Cytisine reduces the craving for nicotine and could be an option for the six million people in the UK who smoke, as an alternative to nicotine replacement products like vapes, chewing gum, and patches.

It also provides an alternative to Pfizer’s Champix (varenicline) and GSK’s Zyban (bupropion), which have seen their use restricted in Europe after they were found to contain potentially toxic contaminants. Zyban has since been reintroduced by GSK, but remains in limited supply and, for now, there is no word on the reintroduction of Champix.

Cytisine’s 25-day course also compares favourably to the 12 weeks required for Champix and seven weeks or more for Champix. It was approved by the MHRA medicines regulator in 2019, but has not been available commercially until now.

Dr Richard Russell, a consultant chest physician at King’s College London, said cytisine’s arrival “provides a new hope for many who have struggled to quit smoking in the past and a clear next step for healthcare professionals helping them.”

He added: “This is a positive step towards improving the health outcomes of smokers and reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases.”

Smoking is estimated to cost the UK economy up to £17 billion a year, through smoking-related lost earnings, unemployment, early deaths, and costs to the NHS.

Smoking-related illness also accounts for one hospital admission every minute and up to 75,000 GP appointments each month. Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care said it was “working urgently” with industry to unblock supply chain problems for drug treatments for proven smoking cessation medicines.

“This launch marks a meaningful step forwards in enhancing public health,” commented Luke Crosbie, chief executive at Consilient Health.

“This medication not only offers a tried and tested solution for smoking cessation, but also signifies our dedication to providing accessible healthcare options.”