"Stop 'Em Before They Start"

Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

 

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July 12, 2002

 

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

 

"Stop 'Em Before They Start"

New Scientist (www.newscientist.com) (06/22/02) Vol. 174, P. 4; Coghlan, Andy

 

With Nabi Biopharmaceuticals' nicotine vaccine currently undergoing safety trials and Xenova's nicotine vaccine successfully through the first stage of testing, the products will be used to treat smokers who repeatedly tried to quit and failed, smokers who want to quit, and perhaps on teenagers to prevent nicotine addictions in the first place.  The products work by forcing the immune system to produce antibodies against nicotine, which it does not naturally make due to the small size of the molecule, by attaching nicotine to a large protein that the immune system can recognize.  The vaccine does not allow nicotine to reach the brain where it usually produces pleasurable side effects.  With 80 percent of smokers starting when teenagers, the vaccines could eventually reduce the number of smokers by reducing the number of teenagers addicted to nicotine.

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