Abstract
Rapid progress in the past decade with re-engineering of human plasma butyrylcholinesterase has led to enzymes that destroy cocaine so efficiently that they prevent or interrupt drug actions in the CNS even though confined to the blood stream. Over the same time window, improved gene-transfer technology has made it possible to deliver such enzymes by endogenous gene transduction at high levels for periods of a year or longer after a single treatment. This article reviews recent advances in this field and considers prospects for development of a robust therapy aimed at aiding recovering drug users avoid addiction relapse.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 151-162 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Future Medicinal Chemistry |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2012 |
Keywords
- Plasma enzyme capable of hydrolyzing acetylcholine and numerous other bioactive esters
- including cocaine (but at low efficiency)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery