Modern Health Observation

The vaccine works by “wrapping” to cocaine so that it has no effects on the brain, heart or other organ, “” this is the first successful controlled trial of a vaccine against cocaine, say scientists.

According to previous studies conducted with animals and humans, high levels of anti-cocaine antibodies in the blood can prevent addicts experience that feeling.

However, the researchers stressed that the vaccine who managed the high level of antibodies, only maintained it for two months, so it would need repeat injections.

According to the researchers, the effects of high antibody levels began to be seen until the eighth week of the test. Taking into account that on average, a patient comes to treatment after six to eight years of drug abuse, may be needed two years of vaccines, scientists say.

In the study, enrolled 115 individuals dependent on cocaine and opioids (like morphine or heroin) and were randomly selected to receive five injections of the active vaccine or five injections of a dummy treatment for 12 weeks.

Of the 55 individuals who completed the trial, 21 (38%) achieved antibody levels of 43 micrograms per milliliter or more. Those who obtained this level of antibodies were significantly more urine samples clean of cocaine (45%) between weeks nine and 16 of the study than those with lower levels of antibodies and those receiving placebo treatments.

As the researchers note, the proportion of participants who were able to reduce cocaine use in half was significantly higher among those who received the active vaccine (53%) compared with the placebo group (23%).

Scientists say that the adverse effects associated with the vaccine were mild to moderate.
The symptom that most often complained about the participants was hardening and pain at the injection site.