Hansoh Pharma Launches New Smoking Cessation Drug Ailechang (Varenicline Tartrate Tablets) in China

China Economic Net, April 28th, by reporter Guowang Zhu: Recently, the smoking cessation drug Ailechang (generic name: Varenicline Tartrate Tablets), developed by Hansoh Pharma, has officially been launched in China, filling the market gap for the smoking cessation drug Varenicline.

As an innovative non-nicotine smoking cessation medication, varenicline is a nicotinic receptor agonist that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the receptors, producing a partial stimulation of dopamine release. This alleviates patients' craving for nicotine and withdrawal symptoms while blocking nicotine from binding to the receptors, reducing the pleasure derived from smoking. Generally, patients experience a deterioration in the taste of cigarettes after about ten days of medication, gradually losing interest in smoking. Adverse reactions may include initial nausea and dizziness, typically lasting one to two weeks, mild in severity, and generally tolerable.

In 2022, the latest national cancer statistics released by the National Cancer Center showed that China has the largest smoking population in the world, with approximately 350 million smokers, accounting for about one-third of the global smoking population. Smoking is one of the major risk factors for various cancers such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and stomach cancer. As China tightens its tobacco control policies, quitting smoking has become a goal for many smokers and their families. Statistics show that about 46% of smokers attempt to quit each year, but less than 3% manage to remain smoke-free for over a year.

Scientific evidence shows that pharmacological intervention is the most effective method for smoking cessation. As one of the first-line smoking cessation medications recommended by the World Health Organization, Hansoh Pharma's Ailechang (Varenicline Tartrate Tablets) offers a new option for China’s smoking cessation population.