World`s First Nicotine Vaccine

The world`s first `anti-smoking vaccine` to help smokers to quit or to reduce by stopping nicotine from reaching the brain, thereby preventing addiction, was developed.

BBC reported on Monday that the clinical trials of the vaccine known as `TA-NIC` developed by Xenova, the UK company developing the vaccine, have been launched with sixty volunteers.

At this early stage the tests are focused on establishing what level of dose can be safely tolerated.

The vaccine is designed to stimulate the body`s immune system to produce antibodies which block the nicotine molecules from reaching the brain through blood vessel. The vaccine makes the nicotine molecules too big to get into the brain. Nicotine addiction takes place when nicotine passes into the brain.

David Oxlade, Xenova`s Chief Executive, said, ``If the trial succeeds, Xenova hopes to have it on the market within five years.`` According to the World Health Organization, 1 billion smoke worldwide, and about 4 million die each year because of long cancer, heart disease and other smoking related illnesses.

Lee Jong-Hoon taylor55@donga.com