NicVax vaccine denies `kick’ to smokers; stops re-starting smoking habit

NicVax, a new anti-smoking vaccine that denies the “kick” smokers get and prevent re-hooking to the cigarettes by curing addiction to nicotine is underway.

NicVax vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that will bind to nicotine and prevent it from crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Nicotine is a major substance found in tobacco and this is the chemical that give the high to smokers by stimulating the pleasure centres of the brain.

Nicotine is also one of the select substances capable of cross the blood-brain barrier, which normally protects the brain and spinal cord from harmful substances.

As soon as nicotine crosses the protecting blood-brain barrier it starts affecting the chemistry of the brain. Nicotine triggers the release of stimulants, such as dopamine, that give a pleasurable sensation to the smoker.

This “kick” normally makes the smoker craving for cigarettes again and again leading to tobacco addiction.

NicVax’ mechanism of action depends upon the addictive pathway of neurological response to nicotine.

NicVax stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to nicotine creating an antigen/antibody complex that is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier.

By doing so, NicVax blocks nicotine from reaching these receptors in the brain and prevents the highly-addictive pleasure sensation experienced by smokers and users of nicotine products.

Pre-clinical and previous clinical data show that NicVax’s ability to block nicotine from reaching the brain could help people quit smoking.

NicVax prevents smokers getting this high by blocking certain action of nicotine on the pleasure centres of the brain by binding it using anti-nicotine antibodies.

NicVax will also stay longer in the blood. Since Nicvax can stay several months in the blood stream and continue to produce antibodies that block nicotine, the vaccine can be effective in preventing the relapse of smoking habit which is higher during the first one year following stopping smoking.

Relapse is a significant challenge facing smokers and, with currently-available smoking cessation therapies, relapse rates can be as high as 90% in the first year after a smoker quits.

If NicVAX can address the relapse part of nicotine addiction, it would be able to make a very important difference between NicVax and existing anti-smoking treatment therapies.

NicVax is developed and manufactured by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, which is testing the vaccine on about 1,000 persons.

In the study several doses of NicVax vaccine will be given to the participants during a 12 month period.

The NicVax vaccine trials being conducted at Michigan State University (MSU) and 24 other sites in US.

US spends $192 billion to treat smoking related illnesses per year, reports said.