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| Home Front: Tech |
| New Insanely Dangerous Way To Kick Cigarettes |
| 2005-05-14 |
| SCIENTISTS will today unveil results from the first large-scale human trial into a vaccine for nicotine which could see people immunised against addictions to smoking within the next five years... The three trial drugs, which are taken as a course of between four and six injections, work by stimulating the production of antibodies in the blood. These antibodies stop nicotine from entering the brain and producing the addictive sensation craved by smokers... Manipulating the immune system to attack a chemical for which the human body has receptors everywhere. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #2 From memory, nicotine blocks an enzyme that breaks down a neurotransmitter resulting in more neural activity (in the sympathetic nervous system). AFAIAW a normal immune system would have no reaction to nicotine. I agree with the Moose, manipulating the immune system in this way strikes me as highly risky given that immune disorders seem linked to all kinds of modern conditions that were rare or unheard of a couple of generations ago. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-05-14 16:27 |
| #1 It's a nanny state lovers wet dream. Expect mandatory vaccinations of all infants in EU countries. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-14 15:32 |