Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
Taisho Pharmaceutical Co said Monday it will sell a nicotine patch, designed to help smokers quit the habit, in Japan from July 1. Meanwhile, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co is expected to announce Japanese sales of a similar product in the near future.
Taisho will sell the Ciganon CQ, codeveloped by British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC. Takeda will release Johnson & Johnson's Nicorette Patch. The adhesive skin patches supply small amounts of nicotine continuously to users and reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as irritation.
Taisho hopes to sell the Ciganon CQ at 2,940 yen per pack of seven patches for users in the initial phase of quitting smoking.
In Japan, nicotine patches used to require prescriptions by doctors. In spring this year, the health ministry eased regulations and approved the sale of such products as over-the-counter drugs.
Novartis Pharma KK, a unit of Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, already has been selling Nicotinell patches in Japan since May 31.
© JCN
4 Comments
Login to comment
Altria
Ha, 2,940 yen for a pack of 7 patches or 300 yen for a pack of 20 delicious Altria cigarettes - it's a no-brainer.
westurn
Why the twist ??? This article suggests that nicotine patches are some kind of a "new" product. Baloney ! Nicorette has been on the market for years ! The real story here is that they will now be available over the counter ! No real need to advertise the Japanese companies named here. Buncha nonsense !
ultradodgy
Westurn - these are patches, not the nicorette gum. The patches have only been here for a few months (been out in the west for years, though).
Works great for long flights.
Sarge
Altria - Ha, 2,940 yen for a pack of 7 patches that will help you kick the powerful nicotine addiction, or 300 yen for a pack of stinky cancer sticks? It's a no-brainer!