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Overview
Who Makes Chantex?Chantex (also known as Chantix) is the brand name for varenicline tartrate, a drug to help smokers quit smoking. Although approved for use in the United States, it has not been approved in Europe. Chantex is made by Pfizer Inc., the largest pharmauceutical company in the world for both human and animal medications. Other medications Pfizer makes include the antidepressant Zoloft and the high-cholesterol-fighting drug Lipitor.
History
Pfizer is an Ameican company that began in 1849 in Brooklyn. It was started by two German immigrant cousins, Charels Erhart and Charles Pfizer. Their first success was with santonin, which killed internal worms. The company has grown steadily, bought out other pharmaceutical companies, opened European offices and makes tens of billions of dollars each year.
Significance
Pfizer is one of the most respected names in pharmaceuticals. It places an emphasis on doing thorough research to back up its medicines. Since Pfizer is also one of the most financially stable companies, Chantex likely will be on the market for many years. There also will not be a generic available until at least 2019, since the patent runs out in November 2018.
Considerations
In 2006, Pfizer sold all rights to other quit-smoking aids such as nicotine patches and gum before putting Chantex on the market in the hopes that Chantex would make such problems obsolete. Consult with your doctor before combining Chantex with any other quit-smoking therapy such as nicotine gum.
Warning
Any medication will not make you suddenly be able to quit smoking immediately or permanantly. Although Pfizer reports that 44 percent of smokers in its clinical trials were able to quit using Chantex, it's theorized that smokers who volunteer for clinical trials are far more serious about wanting to quit smoking than the average smoker.
Theories/Speculation
Pfizer plans on making Chantex until its patent expires in November 2018. Pfizer seems particularly committed to marketing and promoting it for years to come.
