May 2005
A vaccine that stops you smoking because you no longer get a buzz from the nicotine looks like becoming a reality say researchers. The vaccine has been developed by the Swiss biotechnology company Cytos.
How the Smoking Vaccine Works
The vaccine uses part of a protein that attracts an immune response to nicotine. Antibodies bind to nicotine and this prevents it from getting through to the brain. Without the 'high' from nicotine the incentive to smoke diminishes. The vaccine should therefore make it much easier to give up tobacco.
Quit Smoking Vaccine Research
The research headed by Jacques Cornuz of University Hospital Lausanne has had some significant results. 57% of smokers who achieved high levels of antibodies against nicotine after receiving the vaccine stopped smoking completely for at least six months.
There was also a large placebo effect with the vaccine. 31% of the people who received dummy vaccine also quit smoking. About 33% of those who developed lower levels of antibodies also quit smoking.
The study volunteers all smoked between 10 and 40 cigarettes a day for at least three years and were aged between 18 and 70 years of age.
Side effects of the vaccinations were redness and tenderness at the injection site. Some people experienced flu-like symptoms that resolved within 24 hours.
Companies Developing Vaccines
Cytos have been publicizing other vaccine hopes such diverse things as Alzheimer's, obesity and hypertension. Cytos is only one of a number of other companies look at development of a vaccine for smoking, they include the Xenova Group, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and Prommune.
When Will the Anti Smoking Vaccine be Ready?
Researchers believe that the vaccine could be available within 5 years. That's a long time to go on punishing your lungs and risking your health. Lung cancer, infection and chronic irreversible damage may not wait for you. Quit now!
