Skip to content

This may be exactly what smokers need to quit

The vaccine will not require any needles which makes it more cost effective than traditional vaccines.
Dr. Hoang-Thanh Le 200916_smoking_vaccine
Dr. Hoang-Thanh Le and his team are proposing to develop a new vaccination strategy targeting the lungs, which offers an effective treatment that can sequester nicotine in the airways and limit its entry into the brain. Supplied photo.

The Canadian Institute of Health Research has granted a researcher with the Health Sciences North Research Institute $688,051 over a three-year term to develop a tobacco smoking vaccine.

Dr. Hoang-Thanh Le and his team are proposing to develop a new vaccination strategy targeting the lungs, which offers an effective treatment that can sequester nicotine in the airways and limit its entry into the brain. 

Preliminary results show that levels of nicotine in the brains of vaccinated mice were four times lower than those not vaccinated. 

Le said he believes the new proposed strategy, which is easily administered through the nose, skin or under the tongue, will help smokers successfully quit and also to prevent smoking in the first place. 

“The nicotine in tobacco is addictive and makes it difficult to quit. Only a small group of people see long-term success with the current smoking cessation options.  The nicotine vaccine would be a likely option for treatment that suppresses the addiction,” Le said in a press release.

Nipissing has higher rates of smoking than the provincial average. 

More than 45,000 Canadians die from smoking-related diseases each year. There is an undeniable link between smoking and cancer, heart and lung diseases.

The tobacco smoking vaccine is showing promising preliminary results.

Le said he anticipates to start human clinical trials once all safety and efficacy testing has been concluded in animals. The vaccine would benefit patients by reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. 

The vaccine will not require any needles which makes it more cost effective than traditional vaccines. This safe and effective approach to vaccination could be further developed for other addictions such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to treat drug addiction.