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Cocaine Vaccine Tackles Addiction

New treatment mutes drug's effect on the brain

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 6, 2009 2:09 AM CDT

(Newser) – A vaccine-like treatment to fight cocaine addiction has shown promising results in early clinical trials and could pave the way for new treatments to battle nicotine and methamphetamine addiction as well, researchers say. The vaccine created antibodies that prevented cocaine molecules from reaching the brain fast enough to cause a euphoric high, causing 40% of addicts to either quit the drug completely or cut back significantly.

The desire to use cocaine returned after treatment finished, meaning users would likely require booster shots to stay off the drug permanently. "It's for people who are motivated to get off drugs," one researcher told the Los Angeles Times. "It's not a cure-all." The scientists plan to carry out a larger study next year, although they say it will be tough to find a pharmaceutical company willing to invest in developing the vaccine.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Researchers say the 'vaccine' could help many of America's estimated 2 million cocaine users fight their addiction. (Shutter Stock)

The vaccine-like treatment creates antibodies that derail the high from cocaine molecules. (©In a N.Y. State Of Mind)

The cocaine trials also hold promise for battling nicotine and methamphetamine addictions as well. (©Marco Gomes)

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This vaccine—even as it is—would probably do pretty well with people who have already stopped using cocaine and just want to keep themselves from relapsing back. - Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Kosten

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Cocaine Vaccine Tackles Addiction