] Two companies, Xenova Group and Nabi Biopharmaceuticals,
] are taking a vaccine approach to block nicotine's action
] on the brain. "Using a vaccine as a treatment rather than
] a preventive is a slightly different way of thinking
] about vaccines," says Doreen Wood, product manager at
] Xenova. Rather than generating an immune response that
] clears away nicotine, both companies' vaccines create
] antibodies that bind nicotine in the blood and prevent it
] from crossing the bloodbrain barrier. The result:
] Nicotine can't stimulate the brain's reward centers--no
] buzz. Thus, there is little, if any, reason to smoke.

Interesting stuff on Nicotine and the brain. Interesting timing on this article as well.

The Scientist :: Depending on Cigarettes, Counting on Science, Mar. 24, 2003