DUBLIN, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging research presented today at a symposium during the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) shows that optimizing therapeutic nicotine products through new uses can significantly enhance efficacy while offering more ways of quitting. Global leaders in smoking cessation discussed clinical study and real-world results that highlight how these innovative treatment approaches go beyond the established and common uses of therapeutic nicotine to offer smokers encouraging new options in personalized quitting.(1)

Studies discussed at the symposium analyzed the efficacy of using therapeutic nicotine in different ways prior to quitting, while reducing cigarette consumption, in combination with other therapeutic nicotine products, and to prevent relapse after successfully quitting.(2) Additional research assessed the use of therapeutic nicotine treatment among smokers who have not made a commitment to quit, showing that approaching quitting smoking by gradual reduction may be an effective method for this group of smokers.(3) Further, a panel of experts representing different healthcare systems across the globe highlighted innovative and effective uses of therapeutic nicotine from a clinical, regulatory, patient and system perspective. The global leaders reviewed opportunities to improve clinical treatment, discussed potential barriers and shared successes and best practices from their countries.

"A 'one size fits all' approach to helping smokers quit is becoming a thing of the past. Recent studies have found new ways for therapeutic nicotine to reach a broader population of smokers," said John Hughes, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont and an expert consultant to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. "These new uses can help smokers who have not responded to or been interested in traditional uses of therapeutic nicotine medications."

Additionally, a survey presented at the SRNT meeting identified different groups of smokers based on readiness to quit. The survey found that many smoker groups had significant interest in the newest form of therapeutic nicotine, NiQuitin Minis(R).(4) Not only were smokers who were ready to quit interested in NiQuitin Minis, but even smokers who were less ready to quit - those who are disengaged from quitting, procrastinate about quitting, or are ambivalent about quitting smoking - show a significant increase of interest in NiQuitin Minis. The small, fast-dissolving nicotine lozenge dissolves in a fraction of the time required for the original lozenge.

The survey identified 14 percent of all French smokers as Serious Quitters who cite many reasons to quit, are ready to quit in the next three months, and have previously used medications for quitting. These smokers were most receptive to current therapeutic nicotine products, and also showed the strongest interest in NiQuitin Minis. The survey also found large groups of smokers that were not ready to quit, including: Ambivalent smokers (26 percent) want to quit, but cited just as many reasons against quitting as for quitting. Procrastinators (25 percent) expressed interest in quitting, but would not commit to a specific time-frame. Content Smokers (18 percent) have tried to quit before, but were now disengaged from quitting. The majority in all three groups was not interested in current therapeutic nicotine medications. However, compared to current nicotine patch, gum, and lozenges, all three groups showed significantly increased interest in this new form of therapeutic nicotine, comprised of a small, fast-dissolving lozenge described as offering rapid craving relief, NiQuitin Minis.(4)

"Although most smokers say they are interested in quitting, only a minority make a quit attempt in any given year, and of those who do attempt to quit, most of those attempts are unassisted," said Saul Shiffman, PhD, researcher and professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh and a consultant to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. "Therapeutic nicotine products have been shown to double a smoker's chance of quitting versus cold turkey.(5) As the newest therapeutic nicotine product, the NiQuitin Minis lozenge is a welcome addition."

Therapeutic nicotine medications, including the NiQuitin lozenge and patch (brand name Nicabate in Australia and Commit and NicoDerm in the United States), can help relieve withdrawal symptoms during smoking cessation.(6) Research from more than 110 clinical trials involving over 40,000 participants have established the safety and efficacy profile of therapeutic nicotine products when used as directed.(5) Therapeutic nicotine is recommended as a first-line treatment for smoking addiction in United States, United Kingdom and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.(6,7,8) To date, GSK's therapeutic nicotine has helped more than six million people around the world quit smoking, and as a result, has greatly reduced their exposure to the risks of cancer and other smoking-related diseases.(9)

GlaxoSmithKline's line of therapeutic nicotine products are available in thousands of retail outlets and pharmacies worldwide. These products are designed specifically to break the addiction cycle by offering a gradual, controlled delivery of nicotine to the body, helping to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

About the Symposium

The symposium entitled, "Pushing the Envelope: Optimizing the Efficacy of Therapeutic Nicotine," was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Featured presenters include:

    
    - Using therapeutic nicotine to optimize efficacy - Dr. Saul Shiffman:
      University of Pittsburgh
    - Applying therapeutic nicotine to new populations of smokers - Dr. John
      Hughes: University of Vermont
    - Optimizing therapeutic nicotine use in clinical treatment (panel) - Dr.
      Renee Bittoun: University of Sydney, Dr. Jonathan Foulds: UMDNJ School 
      of Public Health, Jan Holding: UK National Health Service, Mitch 
      Zeller: Pinney Associates, Bethesda, MD (moderator)

About the NiQuitin Minis Lozenge Survey

The survey, entitled, "Appealing to Smokers Who Are Not Ready to Quit," conducted by GSK Consumer Healthcare, was based off of a survey conducted in France among 1,028 adult smokers, over 18 years old from a national research panel; data were weighted to represent the French population. Based on current smoking behaviour and attitudes, nicotine dependence, and quitting history and attitudes, respondents were clustered using latent class analysis to identify subgroups of smokers.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, NicoDerm(R) CQ and Commit(R), NiQuitin and Nicabate, as well as many medicine cabinet staples such as Aquafresh(R) Panadol(R), Horlicks(R), Sensodyne(R) and Lucozade(R). GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare continues to develop innovative products to help all smokers find their best support system and achieve their goal of being cigarette free.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies. GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

    
    (1) Shiffman et al. Pushing the envelope: optimizing the efficacy of
        therapeutic nicotine. SRNT sponsored symposium Dublin. April 2009.
    (2) Shiffman, Saul. New ways of using therapeutic nicotine to increase
        efficacy. Presentation for SRNT sponsored symposium. Dublin. April 
        2009.
    (3) Hughes, John. Extending therapeutic nicotine use to new populations
        of smokers. Presentation for SRNT sponsored symposium. Dublin. April 
        2009.
    (4) Shiffman, Saul. Appealing to smokers varying in readiness to quit.
        Poster. SRNT annual meeting. Dublin. April 2009.
    (5) Silagy et al. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation
        (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2004. 
        Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, LTD
    (6) Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and
        Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: 
        U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. 
        May 2008.
    (7) World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic,
        2008. Geneva: World | Health Organization; 2008 [cited 2008 Mar 21].
        Available from: http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/en/
    (8) NICE. 2002. Guidance on the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
        and bupropion for smoking cessation. Technology Appraisal Guidance -
        No.39.
    (9) GSK data on file.

    Media             Teresa Calanni, GolinHarris
    Contacts:         +1-312-729-4229, tcalanni@golinharris.com

                      Brian Jones,
                      GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
                      +1-215-751-3415, Brian.L.Jones@gsk.com