NIC002

**NIC002** is an investigational therapeutic anti-nicotine vaccine originally developed by Cytos Biotechnology and subsequently licensed to Novartis for late-stage development. Also known as CYT002-NicQb or NicQb, it uses a nicotine hapten displayed on a Qbeta virus-like particle carrier to induce nicotine-specific antibodies. These antibodies bind nicotine in the circulation, reducing its rapid entry into the brain and thereby intendedly diminishing nicotine-mediated reward signaling from cigarette smoking. The program reached Phase 2 development for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction, but Novartis discontinued it in January 2013 after a Phase 2 study generated nicotine-specific antibodies without meeting its primary smoking-cessation endpoint. ([clinicaltrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00736047))

Other names

NicQbnicotine-Qbeta vaccine