Up In Smoke: Pfizer’s Chantix Sales Go Poof
17 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // July 23rd, 2008 // 8:21 am
The smoking-cessation drug isn’t ringing the register, thanks to months of bad publicity and regulatory warnings, although this should hardly come as a surprise. In its earnings report, Pfizer notes that Chantix revenues in the second-quarter were $207 million, an increase of just 3 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
In the US, specifically, Chantix revenues fell 35 percent to $109 million, although international sales rose 197 percent to $98 million. To compensate, Pfizer vows to continue educational and promotional efforts focused on the Chantix “risk-benefit proposition” and the health consequences of smoking. Meanwhile, overseas marketing is expanding. Known as Champix overseas, the drug was just launched in Japan and will soon debut in Russia, Turkey, China and six other countries over the next year.
James R
The “bad publicity” is because this is bad medicine, with very bad side effects. It is bad for some, and very, very bad for others. It is already being proposed for other medical issues and that is bad. It has not been through enough trials and that is bad. This medicine’s brief history is not only bad, it is very sad.
Seth
Pfizer needs more education around the identity of a smoker/ex-smoker. This drug has the potential to help, if positioned correctly, in local communities of smokers.
Sallie Jones
I am on Chantix and I think with this I will finally be able to put down the smokes. I have had no side effects at all, except for a few dreams that are very colorful.
Hanky Panky
No drug is safe for everyone - it is the prescribing physician’s duty to understand the labeling and give adequate warnings to teh patient - as well as monitor the effect of the drug on the patient.
Boo
Sounds like James R works for the tobacco industry.
James R
Wow, Boo, come up with something original. This medicine is dangerous, there will more bad news concerning this drug. More people will be hurt by this drug. I would not disrespect you for implying that you work for Pfizer. I tell you what, why don’t you take one yourself. You might be okay or you might want to claw your face off, literally.
Peanut
I was never able to quit smoking, though I tried many times using every method available. When Chantix came out I tried it and joined an on-line support group for quitters. The people using Chantix had phenomenal success, much better than everyone else, and there were very few people with side effects. Everyone should know that not every medication is right for everyone, and there will always be some who will have problems. Then the bad press started and it seemed mass hysteria broke out. Everyone knew someone who knew someone who had problems with Chantix. Admittedly some are having allergic reactions and others shouldn’t use it because of already existing psychiatric conditions, but we saw several people who were heavy drinkers who chose to use Chantix, and then had bad reactions. Whose fault is that?
Smoking kills absolutely, and when you listen to addiction experts discuss overcoming addiction, they repeatedly report that nicotine addiction is the hardest to overcome. Chantix is effective and safe for most, and it is the first real help that has been given to those fighting to overcome one of the largest health problems that is completely preventable.
Those of us in the support group who quit last year using Chantix are still quit and doing great. I truly hope that common sense and good medicine prevail.
jane
Peanut, you sound like a pzifer rep
Stan
Guys, I just want to weigh in on this. I am impartial, in terms of- you know Im not a Phizer Rep, and before today, I was very excited about Chantix. In fact, I am an Officer in the US Army. After just one day of use, I have no doubt that for some, and most certainly for me: Chantix is a horrible idea. I find that it is not only inhibatory of Nic., but it is highly psychoactive. After only one dose, I have decided to stop using the med. I have no motive other than giving a testimonial for something that is now important to me- this product whill have bad effects on some people- I now know this to be a fact.
Musician
This drug should go the way of Redux/Phen Fen and Vioxx and be taken off the market immediately before there are more tragic stories concerning its use.
SStahl
Amazing how anyone who doesn’t push unsafe drugs is automatically a “tobacco shill”. Even the FAA has banned its use for pilots. This drug has a worse reputaion for negative health effects–and certainly negative psychological effects–than smoking! The fact is that not all smokers devlop “smoking related diseases”. So, if we can give a stamp of approval for Chantix because “not all drugs are good for everyone”, then we could also give a stamp of approval for smoking because “not all tobacco products are good for everyone”. Stupid. Back in the land of rational thought, of course this drug should be taken off the market immediately!
Bill
So,…“risk-benefit proposition” means what exactly?
Continue enjoying tobacco and “risk” the alledged danger of contracting one or more afflictions from a wide range of “smoking related illnesses”,….about 40 years from now,..OR,…undertake the Chantix regimen and KILL YOURSELF, or SOMEONE ELSE within two weeks of either starting, ..or stopping that regimen? Gee,..that’s a seriously tough decision. The bennefits of both options are so very tempting, ……I’ll have to give that CHOICE the full 10 seconds of serious thought it deserves.
Linda
As a 65 year old smoker who has not killed myself or anyone around me or that I have come into contact with, I think I will keep myself, family and friends safe by not taking chantix..simple, if somethings working, why damage it with Chantix. Somek-em if ya got-em :D
Pam
Oh what a difference a year makes. From the Chantix website:
Pfizer`s hopes rest largely on chantix.
Statistics relating to Chantix sales reveal that in 2006 the sales of the drug was 101 million but in the initial period of 2007, Chantix sales rose significantly to $362 million . Further according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that till June 2007, 2.5 million smokers residing in the US have opted for Chantix prescription.
However, Dean Smith, senior associate dean for administration at the School of Public Health , University of Michigan opines that if Chantix continues to show the same results, it is soon going to be labeled as a blockbuster drug and would prove tremendously money-spinning for its manufacturer Pfizer Incl.
So, now that they’ve killed people in the U.S., they’re moving on to “debut” in new countries? The Almighty Buck is the only thing that’s important to these corrupt pharmaceutical companies. Lives are expendable so long as they can keep pushing their drugs. Even the FDA wrote me saying they thought the benefits outweighed the risks. Well, NOT IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIE OR WATCH THEIR LOVED ONE TURN LUNATIC AND GO BALLISTIC. Where the hell is the oversight of these drugs? Now they want to test 1 year olds for cholesterol and put them on meds by 8 years old? WHAT? They want us all to be thin, non-smoking, non-drinking blobs spaced out on drugs. I am sick to death of the corruption behind the greed. And our governments are in up to their necks in it. Have you SEEN how much the pharmaceuticals spend on lobbying? It’s OBSCENE!
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Alana
I started smoking at 14. I am now 39 and quit smoking five months ago with Chantix.
I tried so many times to quit, at least 5 attempts with nicotine replacement. Dozens of times cold turkey. I never made it past about 1 month nicotine free using nicotine replacement. Cold turkey never made it more than a day or two.
When someone smoked near me or I smelled it.I wanted a cigarette so bad I thought I would go crazy.
Chantix ended all of that. Every now and then I will “miss” smoking but I don’t “need” a cigarette, more like missing an old friend.
It would have never happened without chantix. Those that poo poo it in my circle, do not really want to quit. I can’t speak for anyone else, this is just among my friends.
I was nauseated (I did not take on a full stomach as directed) and had some really vivid dreams. Quitting smoking was worth a little upset stomach and crazy dreams.
I am now 5 months smoke free something I truly thought would NEVER happen. Quitting without chantix is just to painful of a process. Maybe I am weak minded and that is why past quit attempts didn’t work but that only goes to show that chantix does work.
Paul M. Ingargiola
I started smoking at age 13. I quit smoking once after getting viral & bacterial pneumonia for about a month, 3 months while in boot camp and Advanced Military Training, but started right back up! Several people I knew started taking CHANTIX and I said they will never quit! The people I am referring to were heavy chain smokers, husband and wife 3 packs of generic lights a day each for over 45 years. They stopped after using CHANTIX for the 3 months. My Father stopped smoking after 3 months of using the drug. After seeing the success with people I had always known to smoke and saw the positive results, I decided to give it a try. My New Year’s resolution was to quit smoking before age 30, 5 months away! I took CHANTIX 1 month 1 week, but did not follow the standard regiment. I weaned myself off of cigarettes slowly aver 3 weeks time till I was down for 2 packs a day to 1 pack every 3-4 days. I would have 1 cigarette left and not be running out to buy more. At this point I stopped buying them all together and put them down for good! I would probably still be smoking today if it wasn’t for CHANTIX.
One year after smoking cigarettes…and I have not cheated since I put them down while on the drug. I never had any dreams, psychosis, nausea, etc. But I always took it on a full stomach, and went into the regiment with a positive outlook. Listen I really hate big business, especially the US healthcare system, & Pharmacutical companies, but the BAD Press on this drug is complete garbage! Nicoteen is more addictive than Heroin, with that said don’t you think that there will be side effects to quitting. Stop making excuses why you shouldn’t quit, and or blaming CHANTIX for your nightmares, upset stomach, or irratic behaviour! Having Cancer, Enphysima, C.O.P.D, & many other Smoking related illnesses is a worse nightmare, & stomach turning ordeal. I am smoke free, and you can be too! Think about this mindf#%k…If you owned Philip Morris wouldn’t you magnify the bad propaganda, and surpress the positive rusults. Findings are pointless, word of mouth is stronger! The statistics could be 99% positive results by FDA 1% negative, but for some reason only the bad stuff gets broadcasted in the media. The rumors probably got blown out of proportion after some idiot took it on an empty stomach, or had mental issues to beging with! If you are talking bad about CHANTIX, and scaring people from even trying it, you are influencing them to not quit. Just because you had a bad experience, or you know someone that knows someone that had a bad experience, doen’t mean that’s what happened or will happen with someone else. Stop being a Sh%t stirrer!!! If for every 1,000 people 998 that took CHANTIX quit. Two people may have had a bad experience on CHANTIX…One is probably doing something wrong (empty stomach etc.), One probably has legitimate problems with the drug. Hey Do and say what you want this is only my opinion!
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