A cure for cocaine addiction?

The vaccine blocks cocaine's 'high'

A vaccine which can help cocaine addicts break their addiction has been developed by a UK pharmaceutical company.

Trials carried out in the US showed almost half of those given the TA-CD vaccine, developed by Xenova, were able to stay off the drug for six months.

The vaccine does not stop the craving for cocaine, but will stop addicts experiencing a high when they take it.

"The vaccine for cocaine addicts works in very much the same way a regular vaccine works.

"The reason cocaine addicts can take the drug for years without mounting any sort of immune response is because the drug has very small molecules."

He explained that the vaccine is created by attaching the cocaine to a large protein molecule which is used to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies that recognise the drug.

Cool! And if they can do it with cocaine, they might be able to do it with herion.

Better living through technology!

Thanks to Christy (again)


- posted by total @ 6/16/2004 07:35:00 AM .