Nicotine Vaccination and Nicotinic Receptor Occupancy

Summary

This is a molecular imaging research study designed to examine how much nicotine gets into the brain before and after vaccination with NicVAX, a nicotine vaccine developed by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. NicVAX (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine) is an investigational vaccine designed as an aid to smoking cessation and long-term abstinence, as well as an aid to prevent relapses of a treated smoker. In this project we want to understand the degree to which NicVAX administration changes how much nicotine enters the brain in smokers.

Timeline

Start

2009-09

Primary completion

2011-02

Completion

2011-02

Publications

• Esterlis I, Hannestad JO, Perkins E, Bois F, D'Souza DC, Tyndale RF, Seibyl JP, Hatsukami DM, Cosgrove KP, O'Malley SS. Effect of a nicotine vaccine on nicotine binding to beta2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vivo in human tobacco smokers. Am J Psychiatry. 2013 Apr;170(4):399-407. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12060793.

Drugs

Indications