Dr. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska and his colleagues believe that the anti-smoking vaccine they have been studying has potential.
The study tested NicVax and found that about 15% of people given five shots of the vaccine stopped smoking versus 6% who did when given fewer or placebo shots. The results are comparable to other methods currently used to quit smoking and researchers believe that the vaccine will one day be another tool to aid people those that have been unsuccessful wit other methods.
NicVax, by Nabi Pharmaceuticals, "immunizes" smokers against the rush feeling that fuels their addiction. It stops most of nicotine from reaching the brain but some still gets through which possibly eases the withdrawal symptoms. The vaccine treatment differs from standard methods in that it attacks the dependency directly in the brain as opposed to simply replacing the source of the nicotine with gum, lozenges, patches and nasal sprays.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration has fast tracked the vaccine in order for it to get prompt review. NicVax would join the ranks of other quit smoking medications like Pfizer's Chantix and GlaxoSmithKline's Zyban.
[Source: Yahoo News]
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