Nicogen

Nicogen Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company involved in the development of novel nicotine and non-nicotine based drugs and treatment approaches for the cessation and reduction of cigarette smoking. This is accomplished by decreasing the activity of an enzyme responsible for removing nicotine from the body. This decreases nicotine withdrawal, reducing the drive to smoke, reducing the exposure of the smoker to carbon monoxide and to the procarcinogens (cancer-causing agents) found in tobacco smoke, and most importantly, helping individuals stop smoking. Nicogen is the first company to approach the smoking problem by creating treatments based on its understanding of the human genome and the genetics of smoking and nicotine metabolism in the body. This breakthrough centers on the identification of gene variants and associated gene products with focus on the enzyme protein CYP2A6, which is responsible for the metabolism of nicotine.