Nicotine News and Research

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Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (''Solanaceae'') which constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots, and accumulating in the leaves.

Canada should publicly fund smoking cessation pharmacotherapies: CMAJ

Canada should follow the lead of Quebec, Australia and the United Kingdom by publicly funding smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, states an editorial in CMAJ http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj101140.pdf.

30 Aug 2010

Study finds common risk factors linked with painkiller addiction

A new Geisinger study begins to unlock the puzzle of painkiller (opioid) addiction - why some people are more likely to become addicted than others. Geisinger investigators have found that patients with four common risk factors have a significantly higher risk of addiction. In addition, a history of severe drug dependence and drug abuse compounds the risk.

30 Aug 2010

Cigarettes as mood enhancers increase risk of depression

While some teenagers may puff on cigarettes to 'self-medicate' against the blues, scientists at the University of Toronto and the University of Montreal have found that smoking may actually increase depressive symptoms in some adolescents. Published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, the findings are part of the long-term Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study based at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre.

27 Aug 2010

Alexza Pharmaceuticals licenses Staccato nicotine technology to Cypress Bioscience

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has licensed its Staccato nicotine technology to Cypress Bioscience, Inc. The Staccato nicotine technology is a novel electronic multidose delivery system designed to help people stop smoking. The Staccato nicotine technology is intended to improve on a well-validated smoking cessation approach by delivering nicotine via inhalation, mimicking the nicotine effects of smoking without the harmful side effects associated with cigarettes.

26 Aug 2010

New test helps to measure smoker's mainstream smoke deliveries of select chemicals per cigarette

A test for one of the thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke has the potential for more accurately estimating smokers' mouth level exposure and may have applications for developing custom-tailored quitting approaches for the more than 43 million people in the United States who still smoke, and hundreds of millions elsewhere, scientists said here today.

26 Aug 2010

Nabi receives US patent for treatment and prevention of nicotine addiction with NicVAX conjugate vaccines

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced the receipt of a patent for treating and preventing nicotine addiction with NicVAX® and related nicotine conjugate vaccines. The United States Patent and Trademark office issued U.S. Patent No. 7,776,620 entitled "Hapten-carrier conjugates for treating and preventing nicotine addiction" for the exclusive use of methods for treating and preventing nicotine addiction with NicVAX and related nicotine vaccines. This patent runs through December 2018.

26 Aug 2010

Researchers find medication for diabetes, smoking cessation

The script for two research teams inducted today into the American Chemical Society (ACS) scientific "hall of fame" the ACS Heroes of Chemistry is a tale of two pills. One team invented a medication that helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels. The second team invented a medicine that helps people stop smoking, an addiction that experts regard as today's single greatest preventable cause of death worldwide.

23 Aug 2010

NHS Stop Smoking Services helps 373,954 people to quit smoking during 2009-10

NHS Stop Smoking Services helped 373,954 people to quit smoking during 2009-10 - a higher number than ever before.

21 Aug 2010

Even low-level exposure to cigarette smoke affects gene function in lungs

Casual smokers may think that smoking a few cigarettes a week is "no big deal." But according to new research from physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, having an infrequent smoke, or being exposed to secondhand smoke, may be doing more harm than people may think. The findings may further support public smoking bans, say the authors.

20 Aug 2010

E Cigarettes National announces improved atomizer design

E Cigarettes National has an e cigarette, also referred to as smokeless cigarettes, that has a different design on their atomizers that has pushed their electronic cigarette starter kit to the top of the chain in the rapidly growing e cigarette market.

19 Aug 2010

Ozone, nicotine reaction may become threat to asthma sufferers: Study

Another reason for including asthma on the list of potential health risks posed by secondhand tobacco smoke, especially for non-smokers, has been uncovered. Furthermore, the practice of using ozone to remove the smell of tobacco smoke from indoor environments, including hotel rooms and the interiors of vehicles, is probably a bad idea.

17 Aug 2010

Parkinson’s disease linked to genetic alteration of immune system: Study

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a severely crippling disease of the nerves and brain has been linked to genes that affect the immune system according to new research. In these patients the immune system may go awry attacking healthy tissues or failing to fight infections that leave people susceptible to the condition scientists say.

16 Aug 2010

NIDA grants Selecta Biosciences $3M to develop nicotine vaccine for smoking cessation and relapse prevention

Selecta Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing synthetic nanoparticle vaccines and immunotherapies, today announced that it has been awarded a grant for $3 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an institute within the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The grant is aimed at advancing the development of an enhanced therapeutic nicotine vaccine for the treatment of smoking cessation and relapse prevention.

16 Aug 2010

Smoking rates continue to fall in Japan

Japan has set a world record with the 15th consecutive year of low smoking rates according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by Japan Tobacco Inc.

11 Aug 2010

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals completes sale of PentaStaph vaccine candidate to GSK

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced today that it has successfully completed the technology transfer of program know-how associated with the sale of the PentaStaphTM vaccine candidate to GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A.. As a result of successfully completing this milestone, Nabi is eligible to receive $8 million under the agreement governing Nabi's sale of PentaStaphTM (Pentavalent S. aureus Vaccine) and related assets to GSK.

11 Aug 2010

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals reports revenue of $4.8M for second-quarter 2010

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals today announced its second quarter financial results for the three month period ended June 26, 2010. The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $3.4 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.11 per share, for the period ended June 27, 2009.

6 Aug 2010

Smokefree enters joint venture with Colorado to market smoke-free pharmacological products

Smokefree Innotec, Inc. Thomas Schroepfer, CEO, announced today that the Company has executed a Joint venture agreement with a Colorado research and development corporation focusing on natural holistic and herbal medical compounds, operating out of laboratory facilities located in Colorado Springs. The business objective is to jointly develop and market several smoke-free high tech natural and herbal pharmacological products, initially based upon an oral delivery system utilizing the innovative technology developed for the "REAL Smokefree Cigarette". Under this joint venture Smokefree Innotec, Inc. will provide its smoke-free products and devices, and its venture partner will provide all the medical extract formulations to the Company.

4 Aug 2010

Warnings on stop smoking drug Champix

The smoking cessation drug Champix (sold in the US as Chantix) has allegedly made fifteen people commit suicide since January 2008 in Australia. Another 191 patients have reported suicidal thoughts and related effects. The latest available figures from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) suggest a doubling in the numbers of suicides linked to Champix (Varenicline) since July last year with six people committing suicide.

3 Aug 2010

BCBSNC receives CEO Cancer Gold Standard certification

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has received CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation, recognizing the organization's commitment to reducing the risk of cancer for employees and their families by promoting healthy lifestyle choices, encouraging early detection through cancer screenings, and ensuring access to quality treatment.

29 Jul 2010

E-cigarette aerosol decreases over time in smoke-out interval, researchers find

Stronger suction is required to smoke "electronic cigarettes" - marketed as tobacco-free nicotine delivery systems - than conventional brands, with possible adverse effects on human health, researchers at the University of California, Riverside report.

29 Jul 2010