This study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that individuals attaining high levels of an anti-cocaine antibody had significantly more cocaine free urine samples than those with lower antibody levels or those taking a placebo.  Unlike the antibodies produced by other vaccines, which destroy or disable the disease-causing agent, the cocaine antibodies prevent the drug from passing through the blood brain barrier to inhibit the drugs euphoric effects.   The study found that the proportion of subjects having a 50 percent reduction in use was significantly greater in those attaining higher antibody levels than those with lower levels.  However, only 38 percent vaccinated subjects attained the high antibody levels and significant effects of the vaccine only lasted 2 months.

Martell, B. A., Orson, F. M., Poling, J. et al. (2009). Cocaine vaccine for the treatment of cocaine dependence in methadone-maintained patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(10): 1116-1123. http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/10/1116

Authors: Bridget A. Martell, Frank M. Orson, James Poling, Ellen Mitchell, Roger D. Rossen, Tracie Gardner, Thomas R. Kosten