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Next stage vaccines: ukololsya

Thomas Kosten, professor of psychology Baylorskogo College of Medicine in Houston, is trying to develop a vaccine, which once and for all would discourage cravings for drugs, particularly cocaine.

Thomas Costa idea based on new methods of manufacture of vaccines, which have become accessible to scientists relatively recently. The fact is that almost all drugs, including cocaine, are composed of molecules, which are too small to human immune system to recognize and incorporate their response, so the body can not produces antibodies, binding and neutralizing molecule drug.

Thomas Kosten developed a way to "help" the immune system: he joined 10 inactivated molecules of cocaine with inactivated protein vibriona cholera. He suggested that received thus synthetic molecules "megakokaina" organism must respond formulation of antibodies that recognize and this drug.

By design, Thomas Costa, vaccination can keep from returning to drugs those trying to quit them. "For those seeking to get rid of cocaine and intended use of the vaccine. At some point, most addicts lose their will and can no longer "perelomatsya", are beginning to use cocaine again. But those people who vaccine was introduced, no longer will have drug euphoria ", - Kosten said. He believes that simple logic would force people to abandon futile waste of money that does not deliver the expected sensations.

Four years ago, Kosten, then working at Yale Medical School, conducted an experiment involving volunteers who used drugs and wanted to free themselves from the harmful habit. The result seemed encouraging. Vaccination preparations containing megamolekuly, which led to the immune reaction, antibodies attacked the cocaine molecules, preventing them overcome the blood-brain barrier. Those who receive the vaccine, people simply do not really experienced the usual sensations of drug use.

In tests of the vaccine more than 100 people, of whom 55 received five injections over 12 weeks (the rest received a placebo). A third vaccine reduced cocaine use, while 21 persons have seen increased development of antibodies, ten of them stopped taking the drug at all. However, during the first encouraging results were followed by setbacks. A total experiment lasted 24 weeks, permission for the extension studies Kosten not received. After 12 weeks, when the number of antibodies from the immunized beginning to decline, people again began to use cocaine, and a year later, recognizes Kosten, returned to drugs, all participants experiment.

The reason for failure, as the Science, lies in the peculiarities of the immune system. She adapted to fight pathogens, which, unlike the drug enters the body in small quantities. We need time to increase the level of antibodies circulating in the body, but its not, when it comes to the admission of drug doses. But whether this means that such vaccines are useless? No. It may not hold too much hope, but also downplay their significance.

The Bermuda company is now finalizing Celtic Pharma vaccine Costa. If all emerge successful, the vaccine appears already on the market in 2010. And it is estimated Science, will mean a breakthrough in treating not only cocaine use.
Vaccination for smokers
The U.S. company Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and the Swiss Cytos Biotechnology recently announced the successful testing of vaccines antinikotinovyh acting on the same principle as antikokainovaya: former smokers, having received the vaccine are not experiencing pleasure from cigarettes, which facilitates his final renunciation of smoking. This aspect is very important, given that on 19 people from 20, to quit, returned to the habit later, the whole six months. The potential market is huge antinikotinovoy vaccine, it is not surprising that the project has already purchased the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

Periodic vaccination could help not only addicts but also, for example, those suffering from high blood pressure. Many of gipertonikov must continually take large doses of medicine, but people often drop out of drink tablets, when feel better, and thereby jeopardize their health. Rare periodic injections could significantly help them in life. In this case, the aim of the vaccine becomes hormone angiotensin, which reduce the body gives a signal to relax blood vessels. To activate the body's immune reaction, angiotensin also need to connect to larger molecules, like molecules of the virus. The development of such vaccines are involved, for example, a Swiss company Cytos, recently announced the commencement of large-scale clinical trials, and a group of scientists from Salgrenskogo University Hospital in Gothenburg.
Became addicted to immunizations?
Of course, a vaccine of new generation will be in demand, as can make life easier for many people experiencing the inconvenience of the need to take medicines regularly. However, specialists and pay attention to some of the dangers of their use.

At least one serious problem lies on the surface: the number of times antibodies decreases over time, then vaccinations will need to do regularly. With regard to, say, antikokainovoy vaccine, this approach may not be the best, because the actual dependence thus not eliminated. "From that inevitably arise and financial problems: one injection is not enough, they will have to do regularly and for big money", - commented Anastasia Pyanova, studying at the University of Bonn impact Cannabinoids and other psychoactive substances on the human body.

Dependence on cocaine and cigarettes primarily psychological - Specialist stresses: "The so-called" "Breaking" "from lack of nicotine passes fairly quickly, it can survive if the use of special Capsicum plaster and other similar ways (as, indeed, no major harm of cigarettes in nicotine, while resin). But even without plasters the only problem is that the first time after the rejection of cigarettes would be difficult to focus (this is happening because of the fact that nicotine receptors without refuelling will not work). A much more difficult to abandon the ritual of smoking.

Since cocaine similar situation, because physiological dependence on it among the least powerful drugs. By the same deleterious effect on the brain does not occur within a year, as of heroin, and after 10 years of regular use.

If talk is shorter, then I personally think so: while people do not want to throw himself, he no vaccine will not help. Looking psychological adjustment. Perhaps if such vaccines are themselves justified, it will be possible to combine them with the psychological approach ".

I must say that about the same thought and Thomas Kosten, practicing psychologist - he has repeatedly stressed that he invented antikokainovaya vaccine, in fact, adjuvant, the main work should do himself a doctor and patient.

Another problem, which drew attention Anastasia Pyanova - is the impact of possible side effects on the immune system: "Especially dangerous they could be in the case of vaccines for gipertonikov. I think at the expense of drug action will be blocked angiotensin action. In that case, let me remind that with the renin-angiotenzinovoy system such manipulation may end badly. Here, the obvious side effect - "strike" on kidneys ".

However, concludes specialist, is in itself good idea of new vaccines: "In theory, all quite logical. One surely say: "just to prick - and forget" will fail ".