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…
into the lungs quickly passes into the bloodstream, and from there it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it binds to specific nicotine receptors leading to the release of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, eliciting a strong positive response. This is what creates withdrawal symptoms and addiction.
• Nicotine is actually too small to induce the immune system by itself so it has to become part of a larger structure.
• NicVAX is designed to stimulate the immune system’s response to nicotine so that it creates antibodies that will bind to the nicotine in the bloodstream and prevent or slow it from entering into the brain.
• 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’
brains.
• Phase II trials of the vaccine involved 201 patients, where the top 30% of antibody responders (61) were examined in further detail.
• A statistically significant number of these patients (24.6%, p=0.04) stopped smoking between weeks 19-26 of the study (see fig. 1).
• The trial also showed strong correlations between the high production of antibodies and the percentage of smokers who quit for one week throughout the study (see fig. 2).
What next?
• NicVAX was considered to be a promising method since the antibodies did not enter the brain, removing possible side-effects on the central nervous system.
• Although the concept was logical and practical, phase III trials of NicVAX were unsuccessful in showing any statistically significant results.
• Researchers will have to wait for the technology to advance or trial different methods of treatment in the future.
• 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…
into the lungs quickly passes into the bloodstream, and from there it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it binds to specific nicotine receptors leading to the release of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, eliciting a strong positive response. This is what creates withdrawal symptoms and addiction.
• Nicotine is actually too small to induce the immune system by itself so it has to become part of a larger structure.
• NicVAX is designed to stimulate the immune system’s response to nicotine so that it creates antibodies that will bind to the nicotine in the bloodstream and prevent or slow it from entering into the brain.
• 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’
brains.
• Phase II trials of the vaccine involved 201 patients, where the top 30% of antibody responders (61) were examined in further detail.
• A statistically significant number of these patients (24.6%, p=0.04) stopped smoking between weeks 19-26 of the study (see fig. 1).
• The trial also showed strong correlations between the high production of antibodies and the percentage of smokers who quit for one week throughout the study (see fig. 2).
What next?
• NicVAX was considered to be a promising method since the antibodies did not enter the brain, removing possible side-effects on the central nervous system.
• Although the concept was logical and practical, phase III trials of NicVAX were unsuccessful in showing any statistically significant results.
• Researchers will have to wait for the technology to advance or trial different methods of treatment in the future.