Pfizer Pauses Chantix Distribution After Finding Carcinogen (1)

Pfizer Inc. said it’s pausing worldwide distribution of its smoking-cessation drug Chantix after finding elevated levels of nitrosamines, a likely carcinogen, in the pills.

The drug giant is also recalling certain lots of Chantix but didn’t say how many. The distribution halt is out of an abundance of caution, pending further testing, the company said in an email.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as other regulatory authorities around the world, have asked pharmaceutical companies to assess their products for nitrosamines after one called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, was found three years ago in blood-pressure pills.

Nitrosamines have ...