Nabi completes enrollment in nicotine addiction study

Enrollment for the trial was completed three months earlier than anticipated, paving the way for the release of trial results early in the second quarter of 2007.

“The successful completion of patient enrollment puts us in a highly advantageous position to rapidly advance partnering efforts for NicVAX,” stated Thomas McLain, CEO and president, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals

“According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the US and is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths each year, and yet optimal treatments are still not available,” said Henrik Rasmussen, senior vice president, clinical, medical and regulatory affairs at Nabi Biopharmaceuticals.

NicVAX is designed to prevent the 'rush' effect when nicotine reaches and binds to receptors in the brain. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to nicotine. Nicotine attached to the antibodies is too large to cross the blood brain barrier, preventing nicotine from reaching the receptors in the brain.