Context

If current trends continue, tobacco use will cause one billion premature deaths globally this century.1 Predominantly in the form of cigarettes, smoking causes 12% of male and 6% female deaths around the world annually.2 Preventing tobacco-related diseases in cigarette smokers commonly requires treatment; and pharmacotherapy is a cornerstone of therapy. Several pharmacotherapies are currently available and others have been evaluated and abandoned. Understanding their comparative efficacies and risks will help guide treatment, policy and future research.