Tuesday, Pfizer Inc. (PFE) revealed results of a study that found that 47% of smokers with a history of cardiovascular disease who took CHANTIX/CHAMPIX or varenicline were able to quit smoking and remain abstinent during the last four weeks of treatment compared with just 13.9% of those given placebo. The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology 58th Annual Scientific Session in Orlando, Florida. The trial was funded by Pfizer and was conducted in 15 countries.
The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 714 adult patients who had smoked an average of 10 or more cigarettes daily in the year before enrollment. All patients received smoking cessation counseling throughout the study. The primary study endpoint was continuous abstinence rate during the last four weeks of treatment. The key secondary endpoint was continuous abstinence rate from the last four weeks of treatment through the post-treatment phase. At the end of 52 weeks, 19.2% of patients who were randomized to take varenicline during the treatment phase remained abstinent, compared with 7.2% of patients randomized to take placebo. Varenicline was generally well-tolerated. The most common adverse events reported in the study were nausea, headache, insomnia, vomiting, abnormal dreams, fatigue, nasopharyngitis, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness and dyspepsia.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.