INTRODUCTION:

The classic pharmacopoeia used to attenuate cocaine dependence has proved a poor therapeutic efficacy. Based on this discouraging clinical and therapeutic panorama, since more than a decade, various researchers have developed new therapeutic strategies against cocaine addiction. These new experimental strategies are based on the structural design and synthesis of therapeutic vaccine formulations against cocaine addiction.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the development and therapeutic evaluation of active immunization against cocaine.

METHOD:

A bibliographical search was made using PubMed, using as descriptors the words "Cocaine" and "Vaccine." 155 articles were obtained which were used for these review 46 items.

RESULTS:

At preclinical level, active vaccination generates high levels of antibodies capable of recognizing with high specificity the cocaine present in the bloodstream, which attenuates the behavioral changes induced by different doses of cocaine.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

Preclinical and clinical results have reinforced "proof of concept" active therapeutic vaccination to pharmacological control to cocaine use relapse in humans, but gave guidelines to the postulation and justification of synthesizing new models of anti-cocaine vaccines for human use.

This experimental pharmacological strategy of "immunoprotective" nature has proven an effective treatment that significantly reduces drug-seeking behaviors, both at pre-clinical levels in the rodent model as well as in humans.