A new medication that helps people stop smoking has been added to the WHO Essential Medicines list. Valley News/Basil MK photo (pexels.com)
GENEVA, Switzerland – On Sept. 5, the World Health Organization added cytisine, a plant-derived drug long used in Eastern Europe, to its 2025 Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) as a treatment for nicotine dependence.“It has been years since a new tobacco cessation drug has been added to the EML. Cytisine has demonstrated its safety and efficacy for cessation for decades and to have it on the EML is a wonderful opportunity for it to be used in many more countries,” said Dr. Carolyn Dresler, ASH Board Trustee. “As we strive for a world where no one dies from their tobacco addiction, cytisine can be a useful addition to helping people quit.”The WHO Expert Committee recommended cytisine (INN cytisinicline) for the EML “based on a favorable balance of benefits and harms
