Pfizer's Chantix May Boost Heart Risks

After reviewing data from a clinical trial, the FDA says it is changing the labeling on Chantix to incorporate new cautionary language for patients with heart disease.

U.S. regulators have warned that Pfizer's stop-smoking drug Chantix can boost the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks.

After reviewing data from a clinical trial, the FDA says it is changing the labeling on Chantix to incorporate new cautionary language for patients with heart disease. The independent study looked at 700 smokers with cardiovascular disease, comparing Chantix with a placebo. The good news was that Chantix was effective at helping patients quit smoking for as long as one year. But the Chantix patients were also more likely to have a heart attack or another cardiovascular complication.

Many of those who try to quit smoking are doing so because of the link to heart attack risks, Reuters points out. Now, there appears to be an asso