New drug to help decisively quit smoking?

Scientists in Khimki just outside Moscow have developed what they claim is a drug to help heavy smokers quit; the new drug is expected to hit the market in five years

Scientists in Khimki just outside Moscow have developed what they claim is a drug to help heavy smokers quit; the new drug is currently being tested in a local nanotech lab, Rostovdrive.ru reported. The source cited a statement by the top management of a Russian company developing the project. It is Selecta (RUS), the Russian subsidiary of the U.S.? Selecta Biosciences Inc., co-invested by Russia?s Rusnano. According to the statement cited, the ?no-smoking? drug will hit the market in five years. When administered, the drug is said to be able to cause the generation of special antibodies that keep nicotine from reaching the brain and, specifically, the so-called ?pleasure center? in it. Stripped of its usual effect of bringing satisfaction, nicotine, which is the most widespread alkaloid, will no longer be in demand by current smokers, the developers believe. With the first trial phase over the inventors are gearing up for an advanced stage of testing the clinical viability of the new drug candidate...