Effect of anti-nicotine immunization with NIC-002 vaccine on brain nicotine accumulation during cigarette smoking.

30 Objectives Anti-nicotine immunization could have utility in aiding smoking cessation. This study assessed the effect of anti-nicotine immunization on brain nicotine accumulation during cigarette smoking using PET. Methods 29 regular smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day) received 4 vaccinations each with 100 μg NIC002 in Alum, (Novartis Pharma AG). The first PET session was performed before the first vaccination and the second at two weeks after the last vaccination. The subject’s head was scanned over 6 min (245 frames) after inhalation of a single puff of smoke from a cigarette containing 11C-(S)-nicotine. The vaccination-induced serum anti-body binding capacity (bound/free nicotine ratio, B/F) was assessed using 3H-(S)-nicotine and ultrafiltration. Results The vaccine was safe and well tolerated. Vaccination resulted in a statistically significant but highly variable increase (CV=88%) in serum binding capacity B/F = 0.18 ± 0.03 (mean ± SE, n=29, p Conclusions Anti-nicotine immunization can produce both a decrease and an increase in brain nicotine accumulation during smoking, dependent on the quality (affinity) and quantity of the produced antibodies. Research Support National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant RC2DA028948 to Dr. Mukhin) and Novartis Pharma AG.