COMPANY TO TEST VACCINE PREVENTING COCAINE HIGH

Washington -- A U.S. biotechnology company said Thursday it was starting
tests on a vaccine that would stop users from getting a cocaine high.

Massachusetts - based ImmuLogic said it was starting safety tests of the
vaccine, which it said had shown promise with rats. Studies have shown
cocaine acts on dopmine, a neurotransmitter that carries signals between
brain cells and is important to movement and motivation. High dopamine
levels create feelings of euphoria. Cocaine keeps dopamine from being
absorbed back into cells, thus keeping more of it around longer.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is helping fund the study. The
institute estimates 10 percent of people who try cocaine go on to become
addicted.