In the United States, completed the second stage of clinical trials for vaccines against nicotine addiction, established company Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. The product has proved effective: among vaccinated smokers were almost three times more people emerged from the harmful habit, compared with the control group, tells WebMD.

Effect NicVAX vaccine based on the stimulation formulating antibodies that bind nicotine molecules in the blood. As such, it can not overcome nicotine cross the blood-brain barrier and get into the brain tissue, making smoking less attractive.

The study, covering nine medical centers in various cities in the United States, was introduced just over three hundred smokers. Within six months, volunteers conducted four or five injections of vaccine or a placebo. It was tested by two different dosage vaccine NicVAX.

Monitoring of the study were participants in the year following the introduction of the first dosage. It turned out that during this period threw smoke 16% of the participants receiving the high dose of vaccine, and 14% of volunteers, which imposed a lower dose of vaccine. As such, the control group was only 6%, said the head of research Stephen Rennard (Stephen Rennard) from the University of Nebraska.

Scientists have also noted that among the people who dropped out smoking prevailed with the strongest immune response to the vaccine. Regarding side effects, they were approximately the same in all groups, the researchers said.

In the near future, scientists intend to conduct a more extensive testing phase NicVAX, said Rennard. He also suggested that the new vaccine will be on sale in one or two years.

A report on the results of the study was presented at a scientific session of the American Association of cardiology.