Quit Smoking with
a new Vaccine for Smokers – Trial for Nicotine Block now Enrolling
June 11th, 2006
|
 |
|
Smoking |
|
The University of
California San Francisco (UCSF) are now enrolling patients for phase II
of “proof of principle” trial to test a nicotine blocking vaccine.
The UCSF’s Habit
Abatement Clinic is testing NicVax, which is a vaccine being developed
by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. The vaccine is intended to help people quit
smoking by limiting the nicotine cravings. The vaccine works with the
immune system to keep nicotine from reaching the brain.
When nicotine
reaches the brain it travels in the bloodstream to the brain. When
nicotine is in the brain it stimulates neuron-receptors that give a
positive sensation which can develop into an addiction that is difficult
to break. With the vaccine, it makes the immune system make antibodies
directed at small nicotine molecules. The nicotine molecules will then
become bound to the antibodies preventing the nicotine from reaching the
brain.
"With little or no
nicotine reaching the brain, smoking is less rewarding. That gives the
smoker a chance to change the behavioral and social factors that also
influence smoking," said Victor Reus, Md., who is the principal
investigator for the study at UCSF.
The immune
antibodies of this vaccine remain in the body for many months. The
researchers hope that the duration of the vaccine will prevent a relapse
in smoking. If a person started to smoke after a relapse, they wouldn’t
get the nicotine rush that would get them to smoke again.
The researchers
are asking for participants in this trial who are living in Northern
California, are smokers, and are over 18 years old. The duration of the
trial is for 12 months and is free to participate. The participants
need to be able to come to San Francisco for injections and follow-up
visits including five behavioral counseling sessions. The research
project will pay participants for each visit and parking at the clinic
will be validated. Interested smokers that want to participate in this
trial are asked to visit their website www.ucsf.edu/nosmoke for more
information.
"Most people who
smoke want to quit, and they now have a number of options to help them
reduce nicotine dependence and quit smoking," said Sharon Hall, PhD, co-
principal investigator and director of the UCSF Habit Abatement Clinic.
"A vaccine that could prevent the addictive action of nicotine is a
promising alternative option."
Nicole Wilson
Best Syndication
Quit Smoking Books at Amazon
Keywords and misspellings: vacine vacinne vacinnation
for quit smoking help to quit smoke smokeing how to stop nicotine urge
taper reduce remove desire craving crave adiction addiction study
research trail tryal trile block niccotene nickotene nikotene niccoteen |
RSS Feed to our Heart/Lung News
