Scientists seek alcoholism vaccine

 

For some of us who drinking is a past time (although I'm not so sure anymore) but for others its a serious problem which compounds itself with some nasty behaviour and reprocusions. The Chileans may be famous for freeing those trapped miners last year but it seems as though they are aiming to be famous for creating the first vaccine for alcoholism.



Chilean researchers said they are developing a vaccine against alcoholism that could be tested on humans starting next year and works by neutralising an enzyme that metabolises alcohol.

The genetic therapy is based on aldehyde dehydrogenase, a group of enzymes that metabolise alcohol and are thus responsible for alcohol tolerance, said Juan Asenjo, who heads a team of researchers at Chile's Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics and the private lab Recalcine.

"I swear I'll never have another drink again!"

 
About 20% of the Asian population lacks this enzyme and thus experience "such a strong reaction that it discourages consumption", he added.

The vaccine would similarly increase unease, nausea and tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat).

"With the vaccine, the desire to consume alcohol will be greatly reduced thanks to these reactions," Asenjo told Radio Cooperativa.

Researchers have already successfully tested the vaccine on rats who were dependent on alcohol, and got them to halve their consumption.

"Why can't I drink as much as I used to,dammit!"

 
"The idea is to have 90% - 95% reduction of consumption for humans," Asenjo said.

It would work like patches or pills that help smokers kick the habit, but with better efficiency by specifically targeting liver cells and avoiding collateral effects on all cells.

This year, researchers plan to focus on mass production of virus cells and conduct tests on animals to determine proper dosage before launching human tests in 2012.

Personally I think this is a breakthrough but I still want the choice to be able to choose when I want to drink, so the Chilean scientists can hold they're vaccine till 2012, in any event thats when the world is coming to an end isn't it...

BCM

Health24