PMID: 16506520Mar 2, 2006Paper

Therapeutic vaccines for nicotine dependence

Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics
Patrik Maurer, Martin F Bachmann

Abstract

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Despite the development of a number of drugs for smoking cessation, overall efficacy of these substances is limited and the majority of smokers fail to quit smoking long-term. These drugs aim to help people quit by either replacing nicotine with an alternative source of nicotine (eg, patches or gums) or by reducing the withdrawal symptoms. A vaccine against nicotine has a different strategy: by inducing sufficient nicotine-specific antibodies, it is possible to sequester the drug in the blood and prevent it from entering the brain. In this way, the addictive properties of cigarettes are eliminated and smokers attempting to quit may be able to smoke one or two cigarettes without becoming hooked again. Essentially, a vaccine against nicotine targets the progression from lapses to full relapse rather than withdrawal symptoms. Recent research with vaccines against nicotine has clearly demonstrated in animals that antibodies can interfere with the addictive properties of nicotine in different settings. The first phase II clinical trial has confirmed the validity of the concept and shown that a vaccine against nicotine can be efficacious for smoking cessation in humans...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Maciej L Goniewicz, Marcin Delijewski
Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
Gui-Bin Wang, Chuan-Jiang Zhu
Expert Review of Vaccines
Raafat E F FahimMatthew W Kalnik
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
Erich H Cerny, Thomas Cerny
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved