Category: Science

  • Scientists Conclude Productive CORESTA

    Scientists Conclude Productive CORESTA

    Photos: BAT

    The Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) concluded its 2024 congress today.

    Hosted by BAT at the Edinburgh International Convention Centre, the congress opened Oct. 13 with 500 delegates, world-leading experts from member and nonmember organizations from more than 30 countries, attending. The theme was “Advancing Tobacco Harm Reduction Through Scientific Collaboration.”

    According to BAT, the event facilitated international dialogue on best practices in scientific research related to tobacco and nicotine alongside highlighting research findings and outcomes from CORESTA members.

    Danni Tower, group head of science and regulatory affairs at BAT, delivered the opening keynote speech, outlining the progress BAT has made in driving forward the tobacco harm reduction agenda. Tower called for more effective scientific collaboration in critical areas.

    All public health agencies, including WHO, should engage with CORESTA scientists to accelerate change.

    Derek Yach

    “The CORESTA Congress demonstrates the importance of collaboration amongst the entire scientific community to fully realize the public health opportunity of tobacco harm reduction,” said Tower in a statement. “We are proud to have hosted such an important event and strongly believe that positive global change is possible if all stakeholders recognize the potential of THR.

    “To achieve this, more open conversations like those we have had this week are needed across the scientific and regulatory landscape, which is why we have recently launched Omni—Forward Thinking for a Smokeless World—an open, evidence-based platform built on leading scientific research.”

    “Presentations at CORESTA demonstrated scientific advances underway in using new approaches to accelerate tobacco harm reduction,” said keynote speaker Derek Yach. “These extend from the use of genomics in agricultural sciences to the development of biomarkers in actual use studies and the application of AI tools to advance our knowledge of causes and effectiveness of interventions. All public health agencies, including WHO, should engage with CORESTA scientists to accelerate change.”

  • CoEHAR Readies to Open Branch in Indonesia

    CoEHAR Readies to Open Branch in Indonesia

    Photo: CoEhar

    The Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania, Italy, signed a letter of intent with the Universitas Padjadjaran to create a new CoEHAR branch in Indonesia. The branch will serve as a regional center for research, outreach and education on smoking harm reduction in the Asia-Pacific region.

    According to statistics from the World Health Organization and other groups, Indonesia had nearly 80 million smokers aged 15 and older in 2022. This places the country third in the world in terms of the number of tobacco users. Conventional cigarette smoking remains the second-highest risk factor in Indonesia.

    “The research conducted by the CoEHAR team at the University of Catania is changing the world, contributing to the revolution of policies aimed at protecting public health in many countries,” said CoEHAR founder Riccardo Polosa in a statement. “Supporting the CoEHAR efforts in Indonesia is a great source of pride for us but also a promise of further commitment to change the fate of a country plagued by unhealthy habits and lifestyles.”

    “Low[-income] and middle-income countries in the Asian region represent a different and multifaceted field of investigation and activity,” said CoEHAR Director Giovanni Li Volti. “Our goal is to enhance research activities by developing joint projects that can fully utilize both the human and technological resources of all the universities and institutions involved, which will contribute to change and the exchange of knowledge and skills.”

    Previously, the universities had already agreed to promote joint research, mobility and training in the field of smoking harm reduction.

  • Study: Inaccurate Disclosures of Nicotine Analogs

    Study: Inaccurate Disclosures of Nicotine Analogs

    Photo: ryanking999

    Companies are inaccurately disclosing the ingredients in products containing nicotine analogs, according to researchers at Duke University and Yale University. Remarkably, in many instances the levels measured were lower than those labeled on the packaging.

    Nicotine analogs are currently not subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s marketing authorization process and have not been extensively studied for their health effects. One chemical, known as 6-methyl nicotine, has been shown in rodent experiments to be far more potent than nicotine in targeting the brain’s nicotine receptors.

    The scientists analyzed a Spree Bar e-cigarette, which is listed as containing 5 percent 6-methyl nicotine. Study results showed the actual amount of the chemical was about 88 percent less than labeled. The e-cigarettes also included an artificial sweetener that is up to 13,000 times sweeter than table sugar, and an artificial coolant that mimics menthol’s effects.

    A second brand of e-cigarettes, marketed as Nixotine, Nixodine, Nixamide and Nic-Safe, contained a nicotine analog called nicotinamide, also at levels lower than the labels indicated, and combined with undisclosed amounts of 6-methyl nicotine. This brand did not include sweeteners or coolants.

    The researchers speculated that companies are using nicotine analogs to bypass health regulations covering vaping products.

    “These products appear to be designed to circumvent the laws and regulations in place to protect people—especially children—from the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use,” said senior author Sven Eric Jordt in a statement. “We do not know what these chemicals do when they are heated and inhaled. These are questions that should be answered before we allow products on the market.”

  • Coresta THR Congress Registration Opens

    Coresta THR Congress Registration Opens

    Photo: Anthony Brown

    Registration is open for the 2024 Coresta Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. 13–17.

    The theme for the congress is Advancing Tobacco Harm Reduction Through Scientific Collaboration.

  • Scientist Urges Caution With AI Vaping Studies

    Scientist Urges Caution With AI Vaping Studies

    Marina Murphy is a scientific communications and engagement expert with more than 20 years of experience.

    Scientists should be aware of the “illusions of understanding” when relying on artificial intelligence for their research, warned Marina Murphy, industry veteran and scientific adviser to the U.K. Vaping Industry Association.

    A recent study, published in Scientific Reports, claims to have uncovered potentially harmful substances that are produced when e-liquids in vaping devices are heated for inhalation.

    The research team at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, used artificial intelligence to simulate the effects of heating e-liquid flavor chemicals found in nicotine vapes.

    The analysis revealed the formation of many hazardous chemicals, including 127 that are classified as “acute toxic,” 153 as “health hazards” and 225 as “irritants.” Notably, these included a group of chemicals called volatile carbonyls (VCs), which are known to pose health risks. Sources for VCs were predicted to be the most popular fruit-flavored, candy-flavored and dessert-flavored products.

    Lead author Donal O’Shea, professor of chemistry and head of the department, said the findings are concerning. “Our findings indicate a significantly different profile of chemical hazards compared to what we are familiar with from traditional tobacco smoking. It is plausible that we are on the cusp of a new wave of chronic diseases that will emerge 15 [years] to 20 years from now due to these exposures.”

    Murphy countered that the effects of overheating e-liquids have been studied extensively. “This can lead to the production of carbonyls, for example, but these compounds make the vapor so caustic as to be un-inhalable,” she wrote in response to the RCSI study. “Newer e-cigarette devices are designed with built-in temperature control systems.”

    She warned that “scary headlines” could prompt smokers thinking of switching to less harmful e-cigarettes to stick with conventional cigarettes instead.

    “Vaping has proven to be the most popular quit aid, and we need to focus less on problems and more on solutions to ensure that vapers continue to get the flavors they need to successfully quit cigarettes in the safest way possible,” said Murphy.

  • Broughton to Open Heated Tobacco Testing Facility

    Broughton to Open Heated Tobacco Testing Facility

    Photo: Broughton

    Broughton will open a dedicated facility for heated-tobacco products (HTPs) at its Oak Tree House site in Lancashire, U.K. The space will allow the scientific consultancy and testing specialist to assist manufacturers with a fully integrated HTP service, from the testing and characterization of products through to toxicology and regulatory submission support. 

    Broughton’s HTP facility will house new testing equipment, such as conditioning cabinets, smoke engines and analytical equipment.

    Broughton can test an HTP for a specific suite of harmful and potentially harmful constituents based on the PMI-58 and regulatory required analytes to ensure there are no major toxicological concerns. Its team will also conduct paper-based toxicology assessments to confirm the absence of any other ingredients or materials of high concern.

    “Heated tobacco is an area of growing interest in the next-generation nicotine market, as it’s widely accepted that most of the toxicants associated with combustible cigarettes are caused by the burning of tobacco,” said Chris Allen, CEO of Broughton.

    “Developing and commercializing heated-tobacco products can offer smokers a reduced-risk alternative—the device heats sufficiently to release nicotine but not high enough for combustion.”

    “Understanding the potentially harmful chemicals and the toxicological impact of a nicotine product is essential for marketing authorization,” said Malcolm Saxton, senior consultant at Broughton. “Our new facility will aid our provision of accredited, accurate and flexible testing for all stages of HTP product development.”

  • BAT Opens Innovation Center for Reduced Risk Products

    BAT Opens Innovation Center for Reduced Risk Products

    BAT has opened a new state-of-the-art Innovation Centre at its global research and development (R&D) headquarters in Southampton. The center will be key in continuing the company’s transformation as it builds “A Better Tomorrow.”

    The £30 million ($38.55 million) facility strengthens and deepens BAT’s R&D capabilities. It provides nine specially designed technical spaces to aid the development of BAT’s portfolio of Reduced Risk Products, according to a press release.

    These spaces are dedicated to researching modern oral nicotine pouches, liquids, and flavors for vapor products, heated tobacco products, and well-being and stimulation beyond nicotine. The investment will also support work on packaging, engineering, innovation development, and system integration.

    “The opening of this new facility marks an important milestone in BAT’s transformation and will play a key role in making a smokeless future a reality. Evidence provided by objective world-class science is essential to facilitate the migration of adult smokers to smokeless products and support public health objectives,” said James Murphy, BAT’s director of Research and Science. “The investment in our Innovation Centre will support the cutting-edge research and product development efforts of our global R&D team for many years to come.”

    The new facilities will bring together cross-functional and key R&D teams – with 400 specialized scientists and engineers drawn from various advanced fields, including biotechnology and clinical trials. Intended to accelerate the development of the next generation of BAT’s New Category products, their work includes developing the robust scientific evidence necessary to encourage adult smokers to switch to less risky alternatives.

    To date, R&D carried out in BAT’s Southampton facilities has produced over 200 peer reviewed studies for smokeless products published in scientific journals and has contributed to BAT’s filing of hundreds of patents a year. BAT is listed as one of the top patent filers in Europe as the company continues to develop smokeless products.

    The new Innovation Centre is the latest example of BAT’s commitment to invest in the highest standards of scientific research and product development to support its ambition to reduce the health impact of its business and deliver “A Better Tomorrow.”

    BAT’s refined strategy has committed the company to “Building a Smokeless World” and becoming a predominately smokeless business, with 50 percent of revenue generated from Non-Combustibles by 2035.

    BAT’s site in Southampton, the home of its R&D operations since 1956, is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 1,000 current employees drawn predominantly from across the UK, and a local supply chain with over 25 suppliers based within a 30-mile radius.

    The company’s UK operations support 7,100 jobs across the wider economy and contribute over £300 million to the UK’s GDP. The opening of the Innovation Centre exemplifies BAT’s commitment to and ongoing investment in the UK, marking the first stage of an eight-part, multi-phase refurbishment program for BAT’s entire Southampton campus.

    Globally, BAT has over 1,600 R&D specialists spread across the UK, US, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. The £30 million investment in the Southampton facility follows the opening of BAT’s Innovation Centres in Trieste (Italy) in 2021 and in Shenzhen (China) in 2022, and an investment of £300 million a year in R&D to develop New Category products and establish substantiation of their reduced risk potential.

  • Giovanni Li Volti Reconfirmed Director of CoEHAR

    Giovanni Li Volti Reconfirmed Director of CoEHAR

    Photo: CoEHAR

    The Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) has reappointed Giovanni Li Volti as its director for the next four years.

    “Following the path already undertaken by Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR, our center is today considered the most influential and productive in the world in the field of research applied to the harm reduction,” Li Volti said in a statement acknowledging the reappointment.

    “A recognition that has led our university to be celebrated and rewarded several times for the productivity of its members, for innovation in the scientific field and for the large and important internationalization actions that have brought to Catania, in just five years, more of 150 researchers and stakeholders from all over the globe, interested in our activity.

    “The trust expressed by all of you honors me and motivates me even more to dedicate my energies, and what I have learned so far, to guarantee the success of scientific research in the sector of reducing smoking harm, and to follow the immense work carried out from the entire CoEHAR team and its founder and mentor.

    “The international successes of CoEHAR are the victories of a team and of the great excellence of Catania research. I look to the future with optimism and hope to work in close collaboration with everyone to achieve new shared and far-sighted goals.”

    Tobacco Reporter profiled CoEHAR in its January 2024 print edition and online (see, “Reviewing their Peers”).

  • Researchers to Study Health Impact of Dual Use

    Researchers to Study Health Impact of Dual Use

    Photo: tcsaba

    A new project sponsored by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) will investigate the consequences of the combined use of conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes on human health.

    Titled, “MAGnitude of cigarette substitutioN after Initiation oF e-cigarettes and its Impact on biomArkers of exposure and potenTial harm in dual users” (“Magnificat”), the study will involve more than 300 dual users.

    Using specific biomarkers, clinical endpoints and behavioral correlations, researchers will be monitoring participants’ health to quantify the impact of transitioning to combustion-free products.

    Participants will be asked to reduce the consumption of conventional cigarettes and switch to electronic cigarettes for a controlled period. According to CoEHAR, the results of the study will be of great interest in addressing questions related to smoking harm reduction in both clinical and behavioral contexts.

    Tobacco Reporter profiled the work of CoEHAR in its January 2024 issue (see “Reviewing their Peers.”)

  • New McKinney Specialty Labs to Test Vape Products

    New McKinney Specialty Labs to Test Vape Products

    Willie McKinney

    Jan. 1, 2024, marked the official launch of McKinney Specialty Labs, a scientific organization with expertise in testing nicotine and other aerosolized products.

    “We are excited to announce the launch of McKinney Specialty Labs and to offer our scientific knowledge and regulatory expertise to support the growing market of inhalable products across different industries,” said Willie McKinney, CEO. “We believe that our commitment to science, quality, innovation and customer service makes us a preferred aerosol testing provider for companies of all sizes.”

    McKinney Specialty Labs provides a wide range of testing and consulting services to ensure that product quality and performance are maintained throughout the life cycle of the product: chemical analysis, physical testing, microbiological testing, toxicology testing and regulatory compliance.

    McKinney Specialty Labs employs nearly 100 experienced scientists and technicians with expertise in aerosol science, analytical chemistry, toxicology and regulatory compliance. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and adheres to strict quality standards.