Anti-smoking shot helps smokers quit

A shot that robs smokers of the nicotine buzz from cigarettes showed promise in midstage testing and may someday offer a radically new way to kick a dangerous habit.\nIn a study, more than twice as many people given five of the shots stopped smoking than those given fewer or phony shots – about 15 percent versus 6 percent after one year.\nThat is comparable to some other smoking cessation aids currently sold and could be an important new tool for people who have failed to quit on other methods, doctors said.\nThe results, presented Wednesday at an American Heart Association conference, do not prove the new approach works but encouraged some experts.\n“It clearly shows promise” and merits a definitive study, said Dr. Frank Vocci, director of medications development at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which has given $8 million for the research so far.\n“There’s merit in it,” but it won’t be available tomorrow, said the lead researcher, Dr. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska.\nThe study tested NicVAX, a vaccine designed to “immunize” smokers against the rush fueling their addiction. It’s made by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals of Boca Raton, Fla.\nThe treatment keeps nicotine from reaching the brain, taking the fun out of smoking and hopefully making it easier to give up. Some nicotine still gets in, possibly easing withdrawal, the main reason quitters relapse.\nThis approach – attacking dependency in the brain – is different than just replacing nicotine, as the gum, lozenges, patches and nasal sprays do.\nThe study involved 301 longtime smokers in Minneapolis, Omaha, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York City and Madison, Wis.