Eclipse to light up market

British American Tobacco says that it has received from the US Food and Drug Administration clearance in respect of two substantial equivalence applications for its improved, carbon-tipped tobacco-heating product (THP), Eclipse and Eclipse Menthol, according to a story in the Winston-Salem Journal relayed by the TMA.

The clearance, which was apparently received on July 19, was referred to in the company’s first half report, published yesterday.

The story said that Eclipse had been developed in the 1990s and was in distribution from 2003 to 2007 as R.J Reynolds’ first national attempt at the HTP category.

BAT’s chief Executive Nicandro Durante said his company was delighted to be the first tobacco company to be able to launch a THP in the US.

He said the company planned to launch the products within a small test market by the end of the year, with national distribution likely in 2019.

The plant in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, which manufacturers Eclipse and Vuse, could experience demand for a substantial production increase as a result of the new products having been given clearance.