The primary study objective is to demonstrate the efficacy of dianicline as an aid to smoking cessation in cigarette smokers. The main secondary objectives are to assess the: craving for cigarettes, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and safety of dianicline.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Outpatients, over legal age, smoking at least 10 cigarettes/day as a mean within the 2 months preceding the screening visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have taken an investigational drug within the past six months prior to the screening visit.

• Patients who had a previous quit attempt (= or >1 day with the aid of pharmacological adjunct) in the previous three months (before screening).

• Patients who have smoked or consumed non-tobacco cigarettes or any form of tobacco product (other than cigarettes such as cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, etc) more than 3 times within the 3 months preceding the screening visit.

• Patients who currently present with (based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition [DSM-IV]):

  • Psychotic disorder
  • Major depressive episode

• Pregnant or breast-feeding women.

• Women of childbearing potential not protected by effective contraceptive method of birth control and/or who are unwilling or unable to be tested for pregnancy. Medically acceptable methods of birth control for this study include approved hormonal contraceptive medications or devices, approved intra-uterine contraceptive devices, use of two combined barrier methods.

• Patients who have suffered from a myocardial infarction, unstable angina or other major cardiovascular event within the past week prior to screening.

• Patients who have a history of multiple allergic reactions to medications in two drug classes.

• Patients who have QTcF > 500 ms on the electrocardiogram (ECG).

• Patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment.

• Patients who have an abnormal laboratory test of potential clinical significance at screening.