Smoking Vaccine
July 18

For years, people have tried everything from patches to pills, nasal spray, even hypnosis to stop smoking. After years of clinical studies, researchers are optimistic. Could quitting be as easy as getting a shot?

More than 48 million Americans smoke, with an additional 6,000 teens lighting up for the first time every day.

Now smokers are hoping a new vaccine will help them quit smoking for good.

The vaccine, called Nicvax, is not yet FDA approved, but researchers say preliminary studies of the shot show that it is safe and effective.

"The purpose of our study is to figure out whether this will help people quit smoking," said Dr. Nancy Rigotti with Massachusetts General Hospital. "Also, to make sure that it's safe to use,"

Dr. Rigotti is leading one of the studies of Nicvax. She says the shot works by blocking nicotine from getting to your brain.

"For smoking to be rewarding, nicotine has to get into your brain," said Rigotti. "The way the vaccine works is it makes your body make antibodies, so that when you smoke, these antibodies soak up the nicotine and prevent it from getting into your brain," said Dr. Rigotti.

That essentially makes a person immune to the chemical.

"So, if you smoke after you've had the vaccine, you won't get the reward that you get from smoking," said Dr. Rigotti. "So after a while, there's no point in smoking anymore."

Nicvax is being tested at 10 clinics around the country. The closest one to Wichita is in Omaha, Nebraska.

The doctor overseeing that study says it will still be a few years before Nicvax is open to the public, but encourages smokers who want to quit to try a new FDA approved pill called Chantix in the meantime.