Lay summary
Smoking causes major harm in New Zealand, and Māori are more likely to experience smoking-related illness than non-Māori. Cytisine is a low-cost medicine that helps people quit smoking and works as well as commonly used alternatives overseas, however, is not available in New Zealand.
This project will test a locally-made cytisine tablet derived from kōwhai and naturalised plants, developed under Māori governance. In a pilot study, 80 Māori who smoke will take either the new Aotearoa-made cytisine or the established overseas product, without knowing which one they receive. The study will assess safety, quitting rates, acceptability, and how easily the medicine can be delivered through stop-smoking services.
The research will contribute to commercial and economic opportunities by de-risking local manufacture of cytisine, supporting domestic supply security and reducing reliance on imported cessation medicines, contributing to long-term cost containment within the health system as well as creating a product for export.