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As 2024 dawns upon us, many individuals have set their sights on New Year’s resolutions, and for some, bidding farewell to smoking ranks high on the list. A recent study published on Monday highlighted a promising aid in this endeavor: “Cytisine,” an inexpensive stop-smoking aid prevalent in Eastern Europe since the 1960s, showing remarkable efficacy in aiding smoking cessation.
The study, featured in the journal Addiction, unveiled that Cytisine substantially enhances the likelihood of successful smoking cessation, surpassing the efficacy of a placebo and potentially outperforming nicotine replacement therapy.
Despite its apparent effectiveness, a significant hurdle emerges: Cytisine remains largely unlicensed and unavailable in numerous countries globally, especially in regions outside central and eastern Europe, including various low and middle-income countries.
Dr. Omar De Santi, the lead author of the study, underscored the critical need for cost-effective smoking cessation drugs in low and middle-income nations. “Our study confirms that cytisine is both effective and cost-efficient. Its potential to curtail smoking rates in these regions is substantial,” Dr. De Santi remarked.
Smokers worldwide face a formidable health threat, with smoking being identified as a leading cause of preventable deaths. Dr. De Santi emphasized Cytisine’s potential as a major solution to combat this grave issue.
Pooling data from eight randomized controlled trials encompassing nearly 6,000 patients, the study established a significant two-fold increase in successful smoking cessation rates when comparing Cytisine against a placebo. Moreover, comparisons between Cytisine and nicotine replacement therapy unveiled modestly favorable outcomes for Cytisine, while its performance against varenicline did not yield a distinct advantage.
The study’s findings shed light on the potential of Cytisine as a transformative agent in the global fight against smoking, emphasizing its capacity to bolster smoking cessation efforts, particularly in regions where accessible and affordable cessation aids are urgently required.
