The trial is the last hurdle for the adoption of the medication developed over 10 years ago by psychiatry professor Dr Tom Kosten and his psychologist and neuroscientist wife, Therese, both from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Current cocaine addiction treatment involves psychiatric counseling and 12-step programs. The Kosten vaccine, which is undergoing clinical trials, stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that will attack cocaine molecules. The antibodies attach to the cocaine and prevent them from reaching the brain to produce the addictive highs.
The vaccine also recognizes the drug when ingested. The immune system is unable to recognize cocaine and other drug molecules because they are so small preventing it from making antibodies.
The Associated Press quoted Kosten as saying, "At some point, most users will give in to temptation and relapse, but those for whom the vaccine is effective won't get high and will lose interest."
