VACCINE FOR NICOTINE ADDICTION BEING TESTED

Vaccine that helps smokers to stop smoking is being tested by FDA. The vaccine makes tobacco molecules too large to reach the brain, stopping nicotine addiction. NicVax is the vaccine designed to cause the immune system to create antibodies to nicotine. The immune system can’t destroy nicotine, but the antibodies made by the immune system bind to nicotine molecules making the nicotine/antibody molecule too large to pass through the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. NicVax is on the fast track plan at the FDA and if approved could be on the market in 2008. Fifty million people in the U.S. smoke, and approximately 400,000 smokers and non smokers die from tobacco smoke each year.

Tobacco Secrets

“Nicotine is addictive. We are, then, in the business of selling nicotine - an addictive drug effective in the release of stress mechanisms.” Internal memo of Brown and Williamson, July 1963.

“Consideration should be given to the hypothesis that the high profits additionally associated with the tobacco industry are directly related to the fact that the customer is dependent on the product.” Internal document of British American Tobacco, August 1979.

The amount of nicotine in cigarettes has increased significantly and steadily from 1998 to 2004, according to a report in August 2006 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health:

* As of 2004, 93 percent of all cigarette brands were rated high nicotine.
* Marlboro, Newport, and Camel, the three most popular brands chosen by young smokers, all delivered significantly more nicotine in 2004 than 1998.
* Nicotine was increased 20% in Kool cigarettes.

Never Too Old

A 118 year old woman in France quit smoking. The news media asked her what made her decide to stop smoking. She said, “I heard it’s bad for you health.”