Efficacy of bupropion and varenicline genetic markers in choosing pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation, and implications for combining drugs: A randomized controlled trial (GENTSMOKING)

Abstract

Introduction Smoking cessation is the best strategy for reducing tobacco-related morbimortality. The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to test whether using the genetically favorable markers to choose a smoking cessation drug treatment (precision medicine) was superior to using the most effective drug (varenicline) in terms of abstinence rates. Additionally, combination therapy was tested when monotherapy failed. Methods This partially blind, single-center study randomized (1:1) 361 participants into two major groups. In the genetic group (n=184), CYP2B6 rs2279343 (genotype AA) participants started treatment with bupropion, and CHRNA4 rs1044396 (genotype CT or TT) participants started treatment with varenicline; when genetic favorable to both, participants started treatment with bupropion, and when favorable to neither, on both drugs. In the control group (n=177), participants started treatment with varenicline, regardless of genetic markers. Drug treatment lasted 12 weeks. Efficacy endpoints were abstinence rates at Weeks 4, and Weeks 8–12, biochemically validated by carbon monoxide in exhaled air. Participants who did not achieve complete abstinence at Week 4, regardless of group, were given the choice to receive combination therapy. Results Abstinence rates were 42.9% (95% CI: 36–64) in the control group versus 30.4% (95% CI: 23–37) in the genetic group at Week 4 (p=0.01); and 74% (95% CI: 67–80) versus 52% (95% CI: 49–64) at Week 12 (p<0.001), respectively. The strategy of combining drugs after Week 4 increased abstinence rates in both groups and the significant difference between genetic and control groups was maintained. Conclusions Results show that using these selected genetic markers was inferior to starting treatment with varenicline (control group), which is currently the most effective smoking cessation drug; moreover, the addition of bupropion in cases of varenicline monotherapy failure improves the efficacy rate until the end of treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER: NCT03362099

Keywords

• precision medicine
• varenicline
• bupropion
• smoking cessation
• pharmacogenetics