New hope to beat Smoking
Los Angeles, May 15 (Kashar News): A NEW nicotine vaccine which could help smokers give up has been put on trial with very Positive results. After being injected with the vaccine, some smokers were able to kick the habit immediately, results of the first large human trial reveal.
341 smokers aged 18 to 70 took part in the study. All participants had been smoking 10 to 40 cigarettes a day for at least three years. The vaccine - codenamed CYT002-NicQb - works by binding the nicotine with antibodies in the blood to prevent the drug passing into the brain.
Jacques Cornuz, of the University Hospital of Lausanne, said: “The data clearly suggest that antibodies against nicotine are effective in helping people quit smoking. I believe the vaccine approach has the potential to dramatically alter the way we will treat smoking addiction.”
Smoking status was assessed between eight weeks and twenty-four weeks after the treatment. Those who produced the most antibody were also the most likely to be able to stop smoking; 57 per cent did. Surprisingly, 31 per cent of the placebo group were also able to stop smoking, a much higher figure than would be expected normally. This shows the value of counselling combined with the belief that they were being given an effective treatment.
At least four companies are testing nicotine vaccines: Cytos Biotechnology (Zurich), whose vaccine Cornuz studied, Xenova Group of Berkshire (England), Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Florida), and Prommune (Omaha).
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Thought it might be fitting for this thread.