The National Health Service (NHS) in England is rolling out an improved once-a-day anti-smoking pill, varenicline, to help save thousands of British lives.
According to NHS, varenicline is just as effective as vapes and more effective than nicotine gum or patches.
The agency said it will offer the pill to tens of thousands of smokers each year. This gives people another option to quit smoking.
Varenicline works by reducing nicotine cravings and blocking its effects on the brain. It also helps with common withdrawal symptoms, like irritability and trouble sleeping.
When combined with behavioural support, such as counselling, the anti-smoking pill can help around one in four people quit smoking for at least six months.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said this new pill offers hope for many who are struggling to quit and could make a significant difference in the fight against smoking-related diseases.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to provide more effective treatment options for patients while saving taxpayers over £500m. The state-run health service aims to deliver care while ensuring value for money.
The introduction of varenicline offers a tool for smokers trying to quit, aligning with government efforts to reduce smoking rates and improve public health.
UK health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: “The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster, and save lives.
“Taken alongside our tobacco and vapes bill, the government and NHS are building a healthy society to help power a healthy economy.”
The anti-smoking pill will be available through NHS Stop Smoking Services. It will be offered alongside other treatments like nicotine replacement therapies, giving patients a broader range of options to support their quit journey.
In addition, a second smoking cessation drug, cytisine, is currently under review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), further expanding the potential for more effective treatments soon.
The pill will be available via a partnership between NHS UK with Teva UK, which will supply a new generic version of the treatment.
A branded version of the pill, Champix, was used previously but was withdrawn in 2021 due to an impurity. However, the relaunched generic product has been approved as safe by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
