New study results showed that 42.3 percent of smokers with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who took CHANTIX/CHAMPIX® (varenicline) were able to quit smoking and remain abstinent during the last four weeks of treatment (weeks 9-12) compared with 8.8 percent of those given placebo (p<0.0001). These findings were presented by investigators at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
“Quitting smoking is of paramount importance for all smokers, particularly those with a smoking-related illness, such as COPD,” said Dr. Donald Tashkin, study investigator, emeritus professor of medicine at University of California, Los Angeles. “This study shows that varenicline is an effective means of smoking cessation for a highly nicotine-dependent, difficult-to-treat group of patients. The safety profile of varenicline in this study was consistent with its pre-approval clinical trials.”
Up to one-half of all people who smoke may eventually develop COPD, a serious illness that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. More than 12 million people in the United States are diagnosed with COPD, and 80 to 90 percent of them are smokers. Further, approximately 24 million U.S. adults have evidence of impaired lung function, suggesting that many people who smoke may have COPD and not yet realize it. Worldwide, COPD currently affects 210 million people and is expected to become the world’s third leading cause of death by 2030.