Scientists closer to a drug reducing nicotine addiction

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) – Researchers say they have created an enzyme that could one day reduce nicotine cravings among smokers.

Scientists gave the enzyme to nicotine-dependent rats and discovered that she was breaking down nicotine in the blood before she could reach the brain.

This quickly reduced the nicotine addiction of the rats. According to the study, this also prevented them from relapsing when they had access to nicotine again.

"It's a very exciting approach because it reduces nicotine addiction without causing cravings and other severe withdrawal symptoms," said lead researcher Olivier George. He is an associate professor at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

In addition, the enzyme "works in the blood, not the brain, so its side effects should be minimal," George added in a press release from the institute.

Nicotine addiction is what makes it so difficult to stop smoking. Preventing tobacco nicotine from reaching the brain has long been considered a promising way to reduce addiction, but previous efforts have not resulted in the development of drugs that sufficiently reduce blood levels of nicotine. to be effective.

The enzyme tested in this study is called NicA2-J1. It is based on a natural enzyme produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas putidabut has been modified to increase potency, stay in the blood, and other features to combat nicotine addiction.

The researchers plan to continue to improve the properties of the enzyme for the purpose of completing clinical trials on humans. However, it is important to note that the results of animal testing are not always reproducible in humans.

The results were published online on October 17 in Progress of science.

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