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Varenicline, an 42 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Sustained-Release Bupropion and Placebo for Smoking Cessation

A Randomized Controlled Trial

David Gonzales, PhD; Stephen I. Rennard, MD; Mitchell Nides, PhD; Cheryl Oncken, MD; Salomon Azoulay, MD; Clare B. Billing, MS; Eric J. Watsky, MD; Jason Gong, MD; Kathryn E. Williams, PhD; Karen R. Reeves, MD; for the Varenicline Phase 3 Study Group

JAMA. 2006;296:47-55.

Context  The 42 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are linked to the reinforcing effects of nicotine and maintaining smoking behavior. Varenicline, a novel 42 nAChR partial agonist, may be beneficial for smoking cessation.

Objective  To assess efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation compared with sustained-release bupropion (bupropion SR) and placebo.

Design, Setting, and Participants  Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo- and active-treatment–controlled, phase 3 clinical trial conducted at 19 US centers from June 19, 2003, to April 22, 2005. Participants were 1025 generally healthy smokers (10 cigarettes/d) with fewer than 3 months of smoking abstinence in the past year, 18 to 75 years old, recruited via advertising.

Intervention  Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive brief counseling and varenicline titrated to 1 mg twice per day (n = 352), bupropion SR titrated to 150 mg twice per day (n = 329), or placebo (n = 344) orally for 12 weeks, with 40 weeks of nondrug follow-up.

Main Outcome Measures  Primary outcome was the exhaled carbon monoxide–confirmed 4-week rate of continuous abstinence from smoking for weeks 9 through 12. A secondary outcome was the continuous abstinence rate for weeks 9 through 24 and weeks 9 through 52.

Results  For weeks 9 through 12, the 4-week continuous abstinence rates were 44.0% for varenicline vs 17.7% for placebo (odds ratio [OR], 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.70-5.50; P<.001) and vs 29.5% for bupropion SR (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.40-2.68; P<.001). Bupropion SR was also significantly more efficacious than placebo (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.38-2.89; P<.001). For weeks 9 through 52, the continuous abstinence rates were 21.9% for varenicline vs 8.4% for placebo (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.95-4.91; P<.001) and vs 16.1% for bupropion SR (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.99-2.17; P = .057). Varenicline reduced craving and withdrawal and, for those who smoked while receiving study drug, smoking satisfaction. No sex differences in efficacy for varenicline were observed. Varenicline was safe and generally well tolerated, with study drug discontinuation rates similar to those for placebo. The most common adverse events for participants receiving active-drug treatment were nausea (98 participants receiving varenicline [28.1%]) and insomnia (72 receiving bupropion SR [21.9%]).

Conclusion  Varenicline was significantly more efficacious than placebo for smoking cessation at all time points and significantly more efficacious than bupropion SR at the end of 12 weeks of drug treatment and at 24 weeks.

Trial Registration  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00141206

Author Affiliations: Smoking Cessation Center, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland (Dr Gonzales); Pulmonary Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha (Dr Rennard); Los Angeles Clinical Trials, Los Angeles, Calif (Dr Nides); Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington (Dr Oncken); Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton, Conn (Drs Azoulay, Watsky, Gong, Williams, and Reeves and Mr Billing).

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