NABI was also in news papers across the country ,AP and CBS nightly news in the segment health watch. the anti smoking craze could move this stock next year along with the staph-vac.
Friday December 17, 8:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Nabi
Nicotine Vaccine Data for Nabi-NicVAX Published in
Peer Review Journal
BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabi© (Nasdaq: NABI - news)
announced the publication of results from
preclinical studies on Nabi-NicVAX(TM) in the Dec. 17, 1999, issue of
the journal ``Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and
Behavior.' The data in the article entitled, ``A Nicotine Conjugate
Vaccine Reduces Nicotine Distribution to Brain and
Attenuates Nicotine Behavioral and Cardiovascular Effects in Rats,' was
generated by research teams led by Paul Pentel,
Ph.D., Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Hennepin County Medical
Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; David Malin,
Ph.D. at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas; and Ali Fattom,
Ph.D., at Nabi in Rockville, MD. The published results
demonstrate that NicVAX-induced antibodies can reduce or prevent some of
the pharmacokinetic, cardiovascular, and
behavioral consequences of nicotine injections in rats.
The studies showed that antibodies to NicVAX were able to attenuate the
hyperactivity induced in rats in response to nicotine
injections. Antibodies to NicVAX were also able to prevent
nicotine-induced blood pressure increases compared to controls.
Comparisons of the amount of nicotine in the brains of animals injected
with levels of nicotine equivalent to two cigarettes,
revealed that animals that received the nicotine antibodies had 64% less
nicotine in their brains compared to control animals.
Moreover, interference with nicotine reaching the brain persisted in
immunized animals that were given nicotine five times within
an 80-minute period; this is equivalent to nicotine from ten cigarettes.
The effects observed at nicotine doses and blood
concentrations equaling or exceeding those typically associated with
nicotine exposure in cigarette smokers suggest a promising
role for NicVAX in the treatment or prevention of nicotine addiction in
humans.
It is well established that nicotine quickly enters into the blood
stream and crosses into the brain upon the use of tobacco. When
nicotine enters into the brain, it binds to receptors that cause the
release of neurotransmitters that, in turn, are responsible for the
pleasurable sensation that occurs from tobacco use. These effects are
believed to lead to nicotine addiction. Nabi- NicVAX is
an experimental, proprietary, conjugate vaccine comprised of nicotine
molecules attached to a nontoxic recombinant carrier
protein. Vaccination with NicVAX has been shown to generate high titers
of nicotine- specific antibodies in experimental
animals. NicVAX has been designed to induce antibodies to nicotine that
can bind to nicotine in the bloodstream.
Antibody/nicotine complexes are too large to cross the blood brain
barrier and as a result the nicotine is held in the blood until it
is metabolized. Since the nicotine cannot reach the brain, it cannot
stimulate the release of neurotransmitters and the tobacco
user should receive less positive feedback from his use of tobacco. Thus
in the new tobacco user, vaccination may prevent
nicotine addiction. In the already addicted tobacco user who is trying
to quit, vaccination may help prevent relapse into
addiction.
``The results obtained thus far with Nabi-NicVAX in these animal models
is very exciting,' declared Dr. Robert Naso, Senior
Vice President. ``If similar effects can be achieved in humans in
clinical trials, we may be able to use the vaccine to prevent
nicotine addiction or to help addicted tobacco users kick their nicotine
habits.'
Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the
United States. It is estimated that more than 50 million
Americans are current smokers and another 6.8 million use smokeless
tobacco. In the U.S., there are approximately 6 million
teenagers who reportedly use tobacco regularly, and it is estimated that
more than 100,000 adolescents under 13 years of age
smoke cigarettes. On a worldwide basis one out of three men and women
over age 18 smokes. Economically, smoking is
reportedly responsible for approximately 7 percent of total U.S. health
care costs -- estimated at $50 billion each year.
Nabi provided funding for the scientific research. Dr. Paul Pentel and
his colleagues at Hennepin County Medical Center,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, were also partially funded by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of
Health, under grant DA10714 (PRP).
Nabi, a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company, has a broad product
portfolio and significant R&D capabilities focused on
the development and commercialization of drugs that prevent and treat
infectious and autoimmune diseases. Nabi currently has
several clinical trials underway in these areas and has four marketed
pharmaceutical products. Additional information may be
obtained on the Company's website at: www.nabi.com
Friday December 17, 4:42 pm Eastern Time
Florida company develops possible nicotine vaccine
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - A Florida-based company said on Friday it
had
developed a vaccine that could help prevent people from becoming
addicted to the nicotine
in cigarettes.
The vaccine, called NicVAX, has worked in rats to greatly reduce the
amount of nicotine reaching the brain. The company that
makes it, Boca Raton-based Nabi (NasdaqNM:NABI - news), said it hopes to
start testing the vaccine in humans by 2002.
``A nicotine vaccine may be useful for preventing and treating tobacco
addiction because vaccinated persons would not be able
get a 'kick' from the nicotine in tobacco smoke or chewing tobacco,'
Dr. Alan Leshner, director of the National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA), one of the National Institutes of Health, said in a
statement.
``Since they would find tobacco less rewarding, they would be less
likely to continue using it.'
NIDA helped fund the study and development of the vaccine.
``The vaccine consists of nicotine molecule conjugated to a protein,'
Tanina Frouge, director of investor relations for the
company, said in a telephone interview.
``The next time the person smokes, the immune system produces antibodies
to nicotine.'
Frouge said the nicotine molecule is naturally too small to attract the
attention of the immune system. ``By linking it to a carrier
protein, the immune system all of a sudden goes 'oh my god',' she said.
Writing in the journal ``Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior', a
team of researchers said they first vaccinated rats and
then injected a single dose of nicotine into them. The amount of
nicotine reaching the brain was reduced by 64 percent.
The rats also stayed calmer than they usually were when injected with
nicotine.
The vaccine is a competitor to one being developed by Cantab
Pharmaceuticals (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: CTB.L) in
Britain.
``If similar effects can be achieved in humans in clinical trials, we
may be able to use the vaccine to prevent nicotine addiction or
to help addicted tobacco users kick their nicotine habits,' Dr. Robert
Naso, senior vice president at Nabi, said in a statement. |
