Translational medication development for nicotine addiction.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current state of the science in medication development for nicotine dependence and to identify important areas for future research.


METHODS
The National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse convened a conference focused on translational approaches to the development, evaluation, and delivery of medications for the treatment of tobacco dependence.


RESULTS
Future research directions include investigations of the efficacy of novel compounds and new applications for existing medications; pharmacogenetic trials of nicotine dependence treatments; and studies of the molecular, neural, and behavioral mechanisms of action of efficacious medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Medication development for the treatment of tobacco dependence remains a scientific and public health priority.
Morgan
Glen
G
Tobacco Control Research Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA. gmorgan@nih.gov
Backinger
Cathy
C
Lerman
Caryn
C
Vocci
Francis
F
D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical