Vaccine may treat nicotine cravings
While Americans who smoke may be able to curb their nicotine addiction with the help of inexpensive medications from a Canadian internet pharmacy, scientists are continuing to diversify their approaches to smoking cessation.
While Americans who smoke may be able to curb their nicotine addiction with the help of inexpensive medications from a Canadian internet pharmacy, scientists are continuing to diversify their approaches to smoking cessation. One team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College created a vaccine that may actually counteract the effects of nicotine in the body.
"Smoking affects a huge number of people worldwide, and there are many people who would like to quit, but need effective help," said scientist Ronald Crystal. "This novel vaccine may offer a much-needed solution."
Past attempts to create nicotine vaccines failed, partly because they delivered anti-nicotine antibodies that lasted only a few weeks. This new vaccine takes a different approach by inserting genetic information into the body's liver cells so that they may create their own sustainable source of antibodies.
In experiments on mice, this vaccine neutralized nicotine in the body before it was able to reach the brain and exert its addictive effects. If future clinical trials succeed, the inoculation may help tobacco cessation efforts by training smokers to find cigarettes less rewarding. Furthermore, the vaccine may prevent addiction in individuals who never smoked.
This study is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
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