The Development Of Smoking Cessation Drugs

{In|during} 1971 Pharmacia {developed|created} the first nicotine replacement product for smoking cessation, nicotine laced chewing gum. The gum was launched for use in Switzerland in 1978, and in 1984 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a smoking cessation prescription drug approved it. Smith Kline Beecham subsequently marketed the gum as Nicorette.

A Duke University researcher developed the patch {in|during} the early 1980's. Produced by Pharmacia, the nicotine patch has been marketed in the U.S. as Nicotrol by the company Johnson & Johnson a subsidiary and as Nicoderm by Smith Kline Beecham. The FDA approved Nicotrol and Nicoderm as prescription smoking cessation drugs in 1991, and in 1996 the FDA did away with the prescription requirement for the patches and the gum,giving the green light to them for over-the-counter sale directly to consumers.

The nicotine inhaler and nicotine spray have also been approved as smoking cessation drugs by the FDA, but to date the agency has not approved them for over the counter sale. The nicotine inhaler evolved from a 'smoke-free' cigarette. Sold under the brand name Favor in the 1980s, the cigarette was forced off the market by the FDA in 1987 because it was deemed "drug delivery device." Just ten years later the FDA approved Johnson & Johnson's Nicotrol inhaler as a nicotine delivery device, which could be used for smoking cessation.

Smoking cessation drugs are being developed but not yet approved. Jed Rose was one of the two Duke University inventors of this cessation drug, who also invented the nicotine patch.

Glaxo Wellcome's Zyban, the only non-nicotine smoking cessation drug currently approved by the FDA, was originally developed as the anti-depressant Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin approved by the FDA, sold under the name bupropion, in 1985, but it was subsequently {removed|taken off} from the market because of concerns about drug induced seizures. Wellbutrin was reintroduced to the market place as an anti-depressant in 1989. When researchers noted that some of those taking the drug {quit|stopped|ceased} or reduced their smoking, Glaxo Wellcome began clinically testing it as an aid for smoking cessation. The FDA approved Zyban and the nicotine patch in 1999. Bupropion is currently marketed by GlaxoSmith Kline as an anti-depressant under the trade name Wellbutrin and as a smoking cessation drug under the name Zyban.

The FDA must first approve any drug or drug delivery devise before it goes the market place. To gain FDA approval, the pharmaceutical company intending to market a specific drug must conduct clinical tests to demonstrate that the drug is both safe for use and that it works for the purpose for which it is intended.


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Doug Grahame. A smoker for over 30 years and the user of pills and potions available to help me stop, I actually flew to mainland China to see a acupuncturist. 4 months later at a party (you know the rest). I thought I knew the reasons I smoked but it was not until I met Elliott did I really understand why I was not having any success. http://www.stopsmokingquitforever.com