EnglishA nicotine vaccine – The "final solution"?
Starting from 2010, the world's 1.3 billion smokers might have a powerful new way to kick the habit.
This new drug works by stimulating the production of antibodies in the blood. The antibodies stop nicotine from entering the brain and producing the addictive sensation craved by smokers. The vaccine approach has the potential to dramatically alter the way we will treat smoking addiction in the future. This medical product has been fully effective on 50% of the 341 heavy smokers who took part in the study conducted by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Cytos Biotechnology, that is aiming to get it on the market by 2010.
The company plans phase III trials aimed at showing the vaccine is not only safe, but works in 100% of the cases.
But what will smokers do in 2010? How many will have vaccinations to detest and abandon tobacco? And how many will choose to continue enjoying their beloved cigarettes? This vaccine could become a dilemma.
"The best cigarette is the one I smoke with my girlfriend after making love", said one smoker we spoke to, and I have no intention of vaccinating myself".
Tough times for Big Tobacco? Maybe not. With the arrival of the anti-nicotine vaccine, the approach to cigarettes could be different: being able to quit "whenever I want", might lead a lot more people to try smoking.
In the meantime, vaccines against addiction to cocaine and heroin have already entered clinical trials …
Today four companies are testing nicotine vaccines: Cytos Biotechnology of Zurich, Switzerland; Enova Group of Berkshire, England, and the American companies Nab Biopharmaceuticals of Boca Raton, Fla., and Promote Inc. of Omaha, Neb.
Cytos Biotechnology is the first firm to report back on a large group trial of the drug. If there are people, addicted to two packs a day, who from one day to the next no longer felt the need to smoke to the point of quitting, it means that something is working.
Although the body's immune system does not normally react to nicotine, scientists have combined the chemical with a protein to trigger a "blocking" response when the vaccine is given. The antibodies produced then attach themselves to any nicotine circulating in the bloodstream, forming a compound too big to cross into the brain.
A bigger trial with higher dosages is now due to take place in 2007. If successful, it is hoped the vaccine can be approved for use by various health authorities in 2008 and be on the market by 2010.
Most important, the data show that we can use the body's own defense, its immune system, to modulate even such complex conditions like addiction.
These findings are extremely important for our pipeline of 27 vaccine candidates in other major disease areas like lung cancer, high blood pressure, obesity or Alzheimer's disease, where the same basic Immunodrug(TM) principle is used.
There is no question that the ideal solution - the wish of all smokers - would be a vaccine against all the illnesses that cigarettes induce, leaving them with the pleasure of smoking when they want.
But this, unfortunately, is pure science fiction.
As an alternative to the vaccine, we suggest the method, 100% guaranteed, proposed by Yesmoke. It has been working successfully for millions of people all over the world:
- Phase Make the decision: "To smoke, or not to smoke?" That is the question, and the first step.
- Phase Don't smoke. (Quit smoking)
- Phase Don't change your mind, and don't start smoking again.
- Phase Enjoy fresh air, tasty foods and many other benefits, enjoy… enjoy… enjoy…
100% Guaranteed … You don't think so?
More info
- www.smokersvaccine.com - More information about the phase II study, the vaccine candidate CYT002-NicQb and general information about smoking and nicotine addiction.
- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals - Product: NicVAX, Nicotine Vaccine - Status: phase II - nabi.com
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