Researchers in a few countries, including the
United States,
UK, and
Sweden, such as Sweden's Karolinska
Institute are working independently on a "
vaccine" to
nicotene addiction. This vaccine would work like
vaccines for diseases, prompting your immune system to create
antibodies. Instead of searching for disease causing antigens, however, these
antibodies would seek out nicotine molecules, effectively preventing them from entering the
reward centers in the
brain.
This means that any
non-smoker vaccinated will never become
addicted to smoking because it won't make them feel good. While the
vaccine will not reduce
cravings in those who do
smoke, it will not give
smokers who decide to
quit a chance to change their minds.
This would be a severe
blow to the
tobacco companies as it would almost entirely
sever their supply of new customers in areas where the
vaccine is available, and most likely, reduce their supply of
current customers.
Which bring us to the question of why this issue hasn't gained more exposure. I've only seen one comprehensive story about it, in a single
website, and found obscure references upon searching for it.
Never have I heard of any
television or
radio media related to the issue.
Why? Isn't this a pretty big story? The
tobacco companies have a lot of
money and
influence and could, conceivably cause a few broadcasters to
neglect to air anything about it. If this is the case, then it's pretty
scary.
As for how the projects are progressing, here's a bit from another story I found:
"We are encouraged by the results obtained so far in these studies," says Dr. Pentel. The next steps will be to conduct additional safety studies, followed by clinical trials with the vaccine in human volunteers. These clinical trials are currently scheduled to be coordinated by Nabi Pharmaceuticals beginning in early 2002.
The rest of this story can be found at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec99/nida-17.htm