New Vaccine Could Stop Nicotine Addiction
Nic Vax Makers Say They Can Ease Teen Smoking
POSTED: 9:01 a.m. PST November 13, 2002
UPDATED: 9:33 a.m. PST November 13, 2002
SAN DIEGO -- Nearly 3,000 kids start smoking every day. But makers of a new vaccine currently being tested say they could have the key to reversing that trend.
"This is a huge, huge opportunity to make an impact on people's lives that have been centered around nicotine addiction," said David Gury of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, which hopes to market Nic Vax to people of all ages if approved.
The vaccine, which would be administered through a shot, is still in the early stages of testing.
When smoked, nicotine goes straight to the brain, causing an addictive high. The vaccine would create antibodies acting like a sponge, soaking up much of the nicotine before it gets to the brain.
Gury said that while the vaccine wouldn't stop young people from having their first smoke, it would make it easier for them to stop.
"You don't get that 'feel goodness' that nicotine provides you when it gets into the brain," Gury said. "So if you stop that process, it should help you stop smoking."
But John Pierce, director of cancer prevention at the University of California-San Diego, said the vaccine study has a long way to go before Gury's claims are backed up. He said people would still compensate for not getting less nicotine in their usual cigarette.
"You go for the buzz," Pierce said. "So if you're only getting half of it from a cigarette, you'll smoke harder, longer until you get it."
Experts from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention agree, saying that while the idea is interesting, Nic Vax could send children the wrong message: that as long as you don't get addicted it's OK to smoke.
"There's always a real great concern that we could have more kids experimenting with cigarettes," said Terry Pechacek of the CDC. "They could feel lulled into a sense of security."
"This is a huge, huge opportunity to make an impact on people's lives that have been centered around nicotine addiction," said David Gury of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, which hopes to market Nic Vax to people of all ages if approved.
The vaccine, which would be administered through a shot, is still in the early stages of testing.
When smoked, nicotine goes straight to the brain, causing an addictive high. The vaccine would create antibodies acting like a sponge, soaking up much of the nicotine before it gets to the brain.
Gury said that while the vaccine wouldn't stop young people from having their first smoke, it would make it easier for them to stop.
"You don't get that 'feel goodness' that nicotine provides you when it gets into the brain," Gury said. "So if you stop that process, it should help you stop smoking."
But John Pierce, director of cancer prevention at the University of California-San Diego, said the vaccine study has a long way to go before Gury's claims are backed up. He said people would still compensate for not getting less nicotine in their usual cigarette.
"You go for the buzz," Pierce said. "So if you're only getting half of it from a cigarette, you'll smoke harder, longer until you get it."
Experts from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention agree, saying that while the idea is interesting, Nic Vax could send children the wrong message: that as long as you don't get addicted it's OK to smoke.
"There's always a real great concern that we could have more kids experimenting with cigarettes," said Terry Pechacek of the CDC. "They could feel lulled into a sense of security."
