| CLINICAL STUDY | Tests in humans are to start this year |
| INDICATION'S |
Protein conjugate of a cocaine analog is given to patient as a VACCINE to induce own immune system to generate anticocaine Ab. The vaccine, would have to be taken in advance, because immunity builds up only slowly from vaccine adm. After a one-month induction period, the vaccine injection would prevent a patient from getting high on cocaine. With an additional booster shot, the vaccine's effects might last a few months, after which Ab levels would tend to decline to marginal levels. According to author, "The vaccine is not good enough by itself to thwart all situations" - such as when very large amounts of cocaine are taken - "but the combination of vaccine & passive immunization can effectively counteract all unwanted relapse to cocaine addiction, as seen in animal models. |
| STATUS | The author et al have had the ester-based vaccine candidate in hand for 3 years now. During that time they have been trying to find a pharma. or biotech Co willing to file an IND application for it & to begin clinical trials. "We now finally have a VERBAL commitment from a Co to file an IND very soon |
| TECHNOLOGY |
The vaccine is the hapten-protein conjugate, with extra ingredients added to increase its immunogenicity - "a trade secret", the author said. Up to now, his group has focused primarily on use of ester deriv. of cocaine [use of HO-(CH2)5 -COOH] as hapten. But the researchers have also designed a cocaine amide [use of H2N-(CH2)5-COOH] that provide enhanced H bonding interactions at the Ab combining site, achieves more favorable binding to cocaine & is more stable than ester. The results with the amide have been fantastic - better than those with the ester. "But the amide is very difficult to make right now, & it would be too expensive to put [an amide based conjugate] into clinical trials. So they have decided to move ahead with an ester vaccine |
| UPDATE | 06.00 |
| AUTHOR | This data is not available for free |
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