What a Nicotine Vaccine Can Mean for Smokers

Many smokers who would like to quit often find themselves on a seemingly endless cycle of cessation and then relapse.  The repeated failure to quit smoking can make some smokers feel frustrated and hopeless.  Fortunately, a new weapon in the battle against nicotine addiction is currently being developed that may bring hope to even the most hardened smokers.  This new smoking cessation aid is not a new gum or patch, but a nicotine vaccine that shows great promise in helping smokers quit.  The vaccine, developed by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, is called NicVax and so far, all clinical trials have demonstrated that NicVax is successful at helping even lifelong smokers quit.  Although smoking cessation is still one of the hardest things anyone will ever do for their health, this new nicotine vaccine can mean a new lifeline for smokers who have repeatedly tried, and failed, to kick the habit for good. 

How NicVax Works

NicVax works by producing antibodies that are formulated to attach to nicotine.  The antibodies prevent the nicotine chemicals from reaching the brain.  The antibody complex is too big to be carried across the blood-brain barrier, thus the chemical effects of nicotine do not reach the brain.  Essentially, NicVax works by hindering the effects of nicotine.  Smokers who get the NicVax vaccine do not get the nicotine kick that they normally would.

The NicVax vaccine must be administered in a doctor's office via injection. 

Who Could Benefit from the NicVax Vaccine?

NicVax could potentially help a large segment of individuals who find themselves unable to quit smoking on their own.  Lifelong smokers can use NicVax to slowly wean themselves off of cigarettes.  Since NicVax suppresses the effects of nicotine, smokers who get the NicVax vaccine will find smoking to be less rewarding and find themselves depending less and less on cigarettes. 

The NicVax vaccine can also potentially be used to treat other forms of nicotine and tobacco addiction.  Frequent users of chewing tobacco, for instance, may be able to benefit from NicVax.  With the clinical trial success of NicVax, vaccines for other forms of substance addictions are currently under development. 

Are There Any Side Effects?

The NicVax vaccine is still quite new, and all of its effects are still unknown.  However, all clinical trials indicate that the NicVax vaccine is quite safe, with very few side effects noted.  This is probably due to the fact that NicVax affects the blood stream, and does not interfere with an individual's neurochemistry. 

Will the NicVax Vaccine Work for Everyone?

The NicVax vaccine shows great potential for helping a large segment of the smoking population greatly reduce or cease their dependence on cigarettes.  It appears that one of the greatest determining factors in predicting the success of the NicVax vaccine is in the commitment of each individual user.  Before taking the NicVax vaccine, an individual must consciously plan to reduce their use of cigarettes with aid of the vaccine treatment, until they have succeeded in quitting altogether. 

Because NicVax is still relatively new, researchers are still determining the success rate of the vaccine, although clinical trials show great promise.  In one of its first clinical trials, researchers administered the NicVax vaccine to 68 smokers for 38 weeks.  The smokers were separated into different groups, with one group receiving a small amount of the NicVax vaccine, the second group receiving a moderate amount, and the third group receiving the highest amount of the NicVax vaccine.  Researchers found that the group that was given the highest dose of NicVax was most successful.  Approximately 38% of the smokers who received the highest dose were able to quit smoking for a minimum period of 30 days.

Another clinical trial indicates that the NicVax vaccine has the potential for high efficacy.  When tested on lab rats, the NicVax vaccine suppressed 64% of the nicotine that would normally reach the brain.

How Long Can the Effects of the NicVax Vaccine Be Felt?

Clinical trials indicate that the NicVax vaccine can have long-lasting effects.  One shot of NicVax can help suppress the effects of nicotine in a smoker for up to a year.  This aspect of the NicVax vaccine can be particularly helpful to smokers who have repeatedly tried to quit smoking, but have a history of relapse.