A vaccine targeting an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol is being developed by Chilean researchers. It could be trialed on humans the next year and may prove beneficial against alcoholism.

The study is being led by Juan Asenjo and his colleagues at Chile's Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics and the private lab Recalcine. The vaccine that is being developed taking into consideration a group of enzymes called aldehyde dehydrogenase, which helps in metabolizing alcohol cuts craving to take alcohol. This enzyme is not possessed by around 20% of the Asian population.

The vaccine was examined on rats addicted to alcohol and in them 50% reduction in desire to consume alcohol was seen. Asenjo told that they wanted to cut this craving in humans by 90-95%. The vaccine can have minor side-effects such as nausea, uneasiness and increased heart beat.

As for now, the researchers’ main aim is to generate abundant virus cells so that by carrying tests on animals, adequate dose of vaccine can be defined. Only after this, the human trials will begin in 2012.

US researchers in October found out a genetic variation known as CYP2EI that works against alcoholism and 10-20% of people possessing this genetic condition start feeling high after having few glasses of alcohol.

The gene is prevalent in the brain and is believed to contain an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol.