Anti-smoking drug passes safety review

GlaxoSmithKline's anti-smoking drug Zyban has passed a European safety review.

But the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products says EU authorities are expected to keep the drug under regular review.

Zyban is a pill that suppresses cravings for tobacco.

It's thought to act on the part of the brain that becomes addicted to nicotine.

There had been questions about the safety of Zyban, which has been available on the NHS for more than a year, after 58 people died following alleged adverse reactions.

Total global sales for Zyban in 2001 were more than €200m.