TA-CD
{{Short description|Vaccine used in treatment of addiction}}
TA-CD is a vaccine developed by the Xenova Group and designed to negate the effects of cocaine, making it suitable for use in treatment of addiction. It is created by combining norcocaine with inactivated cholera toxin. {{cite journal |vauthors=Martell BA, Mitchell E, Poling J, Gonsai K, Kosten TR |title=Vaccine pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cocaine dependence |journal=Biol. Psychiatry |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=158–64 |date=July 2005 |pmid=16038686 |doi=10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.04.032 |s2cid=22415520 }}
It works in much the same way as a regular vaccine. A large protein molecule attaches to cocaine, which stimulates response from antibodies, which destroy the molecule. This also prevents the cocaine from crossing the blood–brain barrier, negating the euphoric high and rewarding effect of cocaine caused from stimulation of dopamine release in the mesolimbic reward pathway. The vaccine does not affect the user's "desire" for cocaine—only the physical effects of the drug.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3804741.stm |title=Cocaine vaccine 'stops addiction' |access-date=2009-10-07|work=BBC News |date=14 June 2004 }}
Results
Phase III Clinical Trials completed in 2014 showed no significant difference between users given placebo and users given TA-CD.{{Cite journal|title = Vaccine for cocaine dependence: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy trial|journal = Drug and Alcohol Dependence|date = 2014-07-01|issn = 1879-0046|pmc = 4073297|pmid = 24793366|pages = 42–47|volume = 140|doi = 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.04.003|first1 = Thomas R.|last1 = Kosten|first2 = Coreen B.|last2 = Domingo|first3 = Daryl|last3 = Shorter|first4 = Frank|last4 = Orson|first5 = Charles|last5 = Green|first6 = Eugene|last6 = Somoza|first7 = Rachelle|last7 = Sekerka|first8 = Frances R.|last8 = Levin|first9 = John J.|last9 = Mariani}} Patients in the high antibody group had a lower drop out rate and fewer positive cocaine urine results in the last 2 weeks of the trial, but it was not significant versus the low antibody or placebo group. However at other points of the study, high antibody users had more positive urine results.{{Cite web|title = Cocaine Vaccine: Research Review|url = http://www.asam.org/magazine/read/article/2014/10/15/cocaine-vaccine-research-review|website = www.asam.org|access-date = 2015-08-29}} This is most likely due to users trying to overcome the antibodies by taking more excessive amounts of cocaine.
This vaccine does not have any effect on the underlying neurobiological cause of addiction which is a possible explanation for the clinical trial's failure.
See also
- Cocaine haptens – structures which elicit anti-bodies against cocaine
- TA-NIC – Similar nicotine vaccine
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- [http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm?articleID=000DF566-2547-1196-906983414B7F0000 Scientific American Mind: Cocaine Vaccine]
External links
- [http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2008/01/would_you_vaccinate_.html Would you vaccinate your child against cocaine?]
- [http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v4/n7/full/tp201448a.html A thermostable bacterial cocaine esterase rapidly eliminates cocaine from brain in nonhuman primates.] Translational Psychiatry (2014) 4, e407; doi:10.1038/tp.2014.48
{{Vaccines}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ta-Cd}}
Category:Vaccines against drugs
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