NHS England will relaunch ‘improved’ anti-smoking pill varenicline after withdrawal of a branded version in 2021.

Varenicline, previously available as Champix, will be offered by pharmacy and council-led stop smoking services in England and is expected to help over 85,000 people try to stop smoking each year.

It will be used as an additional treatment for patients alongside behavioural support such as counselling, and it has ‘been shown to work as well as vapes’ for smoking cessation, according to NHS England.

NHSE chief executive Amanda Pritchard will announce the rollout at a speech today, following the relaunched generic product’s approval by the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA).

Distribution of Champix was paused in 2021 as a precaution due to high levels of potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines detected in the tablets.

Researchers at University College London have since suggested that the removal of varenicline from the UK market may have led to thousands fewer people attempting to stop smoking.

UCL researchers have also estimated that varenicline could help over 85,000 people try to stop smoking each year, and its use over the next five years could prevent up to 9,500 smoking-related deaths.

NHS England has also highlighted that other smoking cessation drugs are ‘on the near horizon’, with cytisine currently being reviewed by NICE.

Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow at the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group said the relaunch of varenicline in England is ‘excellent news’ as it ‘can help more people quit and avoid years of ill health and early death’.

‘Large evidence reviews have consistently found it to be one of the most effective treatments for helping people to stop smoking,’ she said.

Ms Pritchard will say today that the daily pill ‘could be a game-changer for people who want to quit smoking’.

She continued: ‘Alongside supporting the Government’s ambition to create the first smoke-free generation, we are giving current smokers the tools they need to quit – with proven treatment options like this, alongside specialist care, helping to save thousands of lives and the NHS millions of pounds in treatment costs.’

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘Prevention is better than cure. 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.’

This article first appeared on our sister title Pulse.