Key Pharmaceuticals has launched Cyventine (cytisine 1.5 mg tablets), a nicotine-free, first-line smoking cessation aid11† for adults aged 18-65 years who want to stop smoking.1 The first new chemical entity in smoking cessation to be registered for use in almost 20 years,* Cyventine expands the range of smoking cessation treatment options available to Australian adults who want to quit smoking including those who may have previously struggled to quit.
Cyventine’s mode of action targets nicotine addiction (as a partial agonist of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors)1,2,3 helping to reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and the rewarding effects of smoking for Australians seeking support to quit.
Cyventine is available through community pharmacies without a prescription as a Schedule 3 Pharmacist Only Medicine,4 with a complete 25-day course1 of treatment provided in a single pack at a recommended retail price (RRP) of AU$89.99. As a first line treatment,11† Broader availability across the pharmacy channel is anticipated by November.
Cyventine’s active ingredient – cytisine – works on the same brain receptors as nicotine,1,2,3 working to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while making smoking feel less satisfying for the individual.1-3 A head-to-head clinical trial showed that the 25-day cytisine course is 40% more effective than an eight-week course of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT),3,5 with similar efficacy to varenicline,3,6 with better tolerability and a shorter therapy duration.
Cytisine acts on the same nicotine receptors in the brain, helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings while also reducing the rewarding effects of smoking
Dr Chris Bullen, a public health specialist and leading expert in smoking cessation and tobacco control, and an investigator in the New Zealand trials of cytisine, said: “For many people who smoke, nicotine dependence is what makes quitting so difficult. When someone stops smoking, the absence of nicotine can lead to withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings, which is one reason people may need multiple attempts before they are able to quit successfully.
“Cytisine acts on the same nicotine receptors in the brain, helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings while also reducing the rewarding effects of smoking. This can help support people through a quit attempt without providing nicotine.”
While Australia has made substantial progress in decreasing smoking rates, approximately 1.3 million Australian adults continue to smoke daily.7 As 62% of individuals who smoke say they intend to quit,8 it is clear there is an unmet demand for support for quitting. Cyventine’s launch comes at a critical moment in time when smoking remains an important public health priority and considering:
- Among people who smoke, three in 10 have tried to quit but did not succeed.9
- Three in five people who quit smoking relapse within three years,10 highlighting how powerful nicotine addiction can be.
- One in three individuals who smoke purchased or used illicit tobacco in the last three months, more than double the 2022-23 rate.7
Meelian Hoh, Key Pharmaceuticals’ Chief Executive Officer said Cyventine “represents the first new chemical entity in almost two decades for Australian adults who want to quit smoking”.
“By expanding the range of evidence-based options available through community pharmacies, Cyventine offers an effective new option for people who have previously struggled to quit.”
“As a Pharmacist Only medicine, Cyventine can be accessed by eligible adults following a pharmacist consultation, without a prescription. Having a new evidence-based option available through community pharmacy gives pharmacists another way to support people who are ready to quit, while GPs remain important for those with more complex clinical needs.”
Visit: cyventine.com.au.
* First new chemical entity is based on the initial dates of registration on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods for smoking cessation: cytisine on 14 January 2026 and varenicline on 15 February 2007.
† Cytisine is recommended as a first-line smoking cessation treatment in United Kingdom NICE guidance. Current Australian smoking cessation guidelines pre-date the availability of cytisine in Australia.
References:
- Cyventine Product Information. 2026.
- Tutka P, Vinnikov D, Courtney RJ, Benowitz NL. Cytisine for nicotine addiction treatment: a review of pharmacology, therapeutics and an update of clinical trial evidence for smoking cessation. Addiction. 2019;114(11):1951-1969.
- Livingstone-Banks J, Fanshawe TR, Thomas KH, et al. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;5(5):CD006103.
- Department of Health and Aged Care. Notice of final decisions to amend (or not amend) the current Poisons Standard – September 2024. 2024.
- Walker N, Howe C, Glover M, et al. Cytisine versus nicotine for smoking cessation. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(25):2353-2362.
- Courtney RJ, McRobbie H, Tutka P, et al. EJect of Cytisine vs Varenicline on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;326(1):56-64.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2026) National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2025: Tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine insights, AIHW, Australian Government.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2026) Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs in Australia, AIHW, Australian Government (citing National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023).
- RACGP. Supporting Smoking Cessation: A Guide for Health Professionals. May 2024.
- Wilkins R, et al. (2024), cited in Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs in Australia, AIHW, Australian Government.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treatment dependence, 2025
