Nicotine Vaccine NicVax Show Favorable Clinical Trial Results

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics on November 29, 2005

Clinical studies testing NicVax in humans, shows that the nicotine vaccine appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and could therefore be a potentially effective method for helping smokers quit. According to lead author of the study, Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D.,

"The vaccine works by producing antibodies that specifically bind to nicotine and thereby prevent much of the nicotine from entering the brain. This process potentially reduces the pleasurable effects from smoking and reduces the addiction to nicotine."

The vaccines has few side effects,most of which were headaches, muscle pain and tenderness in the area of vaccine injection. There were no significant withdrawal symptoms reported, nor did the vaccine recepients exhibited compensatory smoking behavior, i.e. increased puffing on cigarettes to make up for the lower levels of nicotine reaching the brain.

Researchers say further studies are needed to establish the duration of its effectiveness and whether the vaccine can be used to prevent people who quit from relapsing and starting to smoke again.

It's definitely a promising method to help those who want to quit smoking. Want being the operative word.

For more info, read this article in theUMN News