Canadian and Finnish researchers are developing an innovative medicine that can help people get rid of smoking. It is based on a mechanism for slowing the metabolism of nicotine in the body. According to scientists, this can significantly reduce the need for cigarettes and facilitate the rejection of a bad habit.

Pharmacology professor Hannah Raunio from the University of Eastern Finland explains that nicotine quickly sucks through the oral cavity and lungs, then enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain. However, as soon as the substance enters the liver, its splitting by the enzyme CYP2A6 begins. It is this process that scientists plan to control with the help of a new drug.

Canadian experts believe that the inhibiting of the CYP2A6 enzyme can reduce smoking craving. However, existing inhibitors cause many side effects, which makes them unsuitable for practical use. Therefore, researchers focused on finding safer and targeted solutions.

According to Professor Raunio, modern technologies allow you to create inhibitors that will act exclusively on the necessary areas of the body, without affecting other important functions of the body. For this, scientists use computer modeling, analyzing the structure of the enzyme and selecting molecules that can interact with it at a point level.

The research group has already discovered several promising molecules with a previously unexplored structure.

They also found out how these compounds are associated with the active center of the CYP2A6 enzyme. These discoveries can become the basis for the development of an effective drug that can facilitate the refusal of nicotine.

However, scientists admit that before the emergence of a new medicine in the market is still far away. Additional research, significant financing and thorough security verification are required. Nevertheless, they are sure that their work can lead to a revolution in the fight against nicotine dependence.

E-News. Com. UA.