Nicvax Research Paper
What is NICVAX?
• Smoking causes an enormous increase in the probability of lung cancer and can result in permanent damage to lung tissue and other organs in the body as well as causing deterioration of the immune system.
• Unfortunately, nicotine is incredibly addictive, creating a strong dependency on cigarettes that carry with them various toxic chemicals being inhaled into the lungs.
• This dependency makes it incredibly difficult for smokers to quit, where this is only possible through strong self-discipline and support.
• NicVax is an experimental conjugate vaccine made to reduce or eliminate the physical dependence of nicotine, making it much easier for smokers to quit.
How does it work?
• Nicotine is a small molecule that after inhalation …show more content…
• Because less nicotine is reaching the brain, the neurotransmitter release is greatly lessened and the following pleasurable, positive effects of nicotine are diminished.
• So, if a recently vaccinated smoker has a cigarette after they have completed the immunisation series, the antibodies generated by the vaccine bind to the nicotine and alter its effect on the brain.
• Because not enough nicotine enters the brain, no pleasure is derived from the cigarette and it is unlikely for the smoker to relapse.
• NicVAX is administered through an injection in the arm, so that the 3’-aminomethylnicotine molecule found in the vaccine forces an immune response where ‘nicotine antibodies’ are created.
• These antibodies bind to the nicotine and make it too big to cross the blood/brain barrier, preventing nicotine from activating addiction pathways in the brain.
Did it work?
• Initial tests in the early 2000’s using laboratory rats resulted in nicotine levels being cut by up to 65% in the rats’
• Smoking causes an enormous increase in the probability of lung cancer and can result in permanent damage to lung tissue and other organs in the body as well as causing deterioration of the immune system.
• Unfortunately, nicotine is incredibly addictive, creating a strong dependency on cigarettes that carry with them various toxic chemicals being inhaled into the lungs.
• This dependency makes it incredibly difficult for smokers to quit, where this is only possible through strong self-discipline and support.
• NicVax is an experimental conjugate vaccine made to reduce or eliminate the physical dependence of nicotine, making it much easier for smokers to quit.
How does it work?
• Nicotine is a small molecule that after inhalation …show more content…
• Because less nicotine is reaching the brain, the neurotransmitter release is greatly lessened and the following pleasurable, positive effects of nicotine are diminished.
• So, if a recently vaccinated smoker has a cigarette after they have completed the immunisation series, the antibodies generated by the vaccine bind to the nicotine and alter its effect on the brain.
• Because not enough nicotine enters the brain, no pleasure is derived from the cigarette and it is unlikely for the smoker to relapse.
• NicVAX is administered through an injection in the arm, so that the 3’-aminomethylnicotine molecule found in the vaccine forces an immune response where ‘nicotine antibodies’ are created.
• These antibodies bind to the nicotine and make it too big to cross the blood/brain barrier, preventing nicotine from activating addiction pathways in the brain.
Did it work?
• Initial tests in the early 2000’s using laboratory rats resulted in nicotine levels being cut by up to 65% in the rats’