CLINICAL TRIALS Safety and Immunogenicity of a Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine in Current Smokers
CLINICAL TRIALS Safety and immunogenicity of a nicotine conjugate vaccine in current smokers Immunotherapy is a novel potential treatment for nicotine addiction. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a nicotine conjugate vaccine, NicVAX, and its effects on smoking behavior. were recruited for a noncessation treatment study and assigned to 1 of 3 doses of the (68 ؍ Smokers (N nicotine vaccine (50, 100, or 200 g) or placebo. They were injected on days 0, 28, 56, and 182 and monitored for a period of 38 weeks. Results showed that the nicotine vaccine was safe and well tolerated. Vaccine immunogenicity was dose-related (P < .001), with the highest dose eliciting antibody concentrations within the anticipated range of efficacy. There was no evidence of compensatory smoking or precipitation of nicotine withdrawal with the nicotine vaccine. The 30-day abstinence rate was significantly different across with the highest rate of abstinence occurring with 200 g. The nicotine vaccine appears ,(02. ؍ the 4 doses (P to be a promising medication for tobacco dependence. (Clin Pharmacol Ther 2005;78:456-67.) Dorothy K. Hatsukami, PhD, Stephen Rennard, MD, Douglas Jorenby, PhD, Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, Joseph Koopmeiners, Arjen de Vos, MD, PhD, Gary Horwith, MD, and Paul R. Pentel, MD Minneapolis, Minn, Omaha, Neb, Madison, Wis, and Rockville, Md Surveys show that, although about 41% of smokers apy, is about 25% on average.2 Moreover, these per- make a quit attempt each year, less than 5% of smokers centages most likely exaggerate the efficacy of are successful at remaining abstinent for 3 months to a intervention because these trials are typically composed year.1 Smokers seeking available behavioral and phar- of subjects who are highly motivated to quit and who macologic therapies can enhance successful quit rates are free of complicating diagnoses such as depression 2 by 2- to 3-fold over control conditions.
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