Tag: e-cigarettes

BAT’s Glo Brand Doubles its Market Share in Korea

Credit: Radub85
Non-combustible products are rising in popularity in South Korea, especially the heated tobacco market. According to the latest government data, 210 million packs of heat-not-burn devices were sold in the first half of 2021, up 16.2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
The category’s share in Korea’s entire tobacco market has also increased to 12.4 percent in 2021 from 2.2 percent in 2017, according to Korea Biz Wire.
The country is a key market for the BAT’s glo device, with its market share growing twofold in the past two years. “Our local share has grown greatly since the launch of our heat-not-burn glo pro in 2019. Glo’s share in the non-combustible tobacco market has doubled from two years ago,” BAT’s Country Manager Kim Eun-ji said at the news conference.
BAT’s share in Korea’s non-combustible tobacco market has grown from 6.04 percent in 2017 to around 12 percent in June 2022, said Kim.
In line with such a trend, BAT, the maker of Dunhill and Lucky Strike cigarettes, has invested over $488 million in Korea, which includes a factory in Sacheon, 440 kilometers south of Seoul, which has served as a core export base of BAT since 2002.
“We are aware that the industry’s position is different from that of the health ministry. If we continue to push with more ‘data-driven’ (ways of) communication, we think it will create momentum (that can push) the government to take a step forward, but it will take time,” Kim said.
BAT is the third-largest player in the Korean market for non-combustible tobacco products. The front-runner is KT&G, which accounts for 47 percent of the local market as of June.
BAT Rothmans, the Korean arm of BAT, also reported Tuesday its tobacco heating device glo can reduce health risks of traditional cigarettes, according to a recent study published in the medical journal “Internal and Emergency Medicine.”
The study compared the health effects of glo against traditional cigarettes among 500 British adults aged between 23 and 55 over a one-year period. Researchers found that aerosol produced from glo had 90 to 95 percent less toxicant compared with smoke from traditional cigarettes.
Toxic compounds produced by burning tobacco were either not detected or significantly reduced through the glo device, the company added. “This real-world study allows us to assess the changes that adult smokers switching exclusively to glo experience. It reinforces glo’s potential as a reduced-risk product,” Sharon Goodall, BAT’s head of regulatory science, said at the news conference.
The study results come amid growing calls from the Korean government to increase regulations on e-cigarettes. In September, the health ministry pointed out that e-cigarette devices should go under tighter regulations, citing a growing number of teenage users of such products in the country.
E-cigarette heating devices, like glo, are categorized as ‘industrial products’ in Korea and are subject to looser regulations compared with cigarettes. “It’s hard to entirely trust a clinical study result unilaterally conducted by the tobacco industry. The World Health Organization has concluded that there’s insufficient evidence to support that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes,” a health ministry official said. He asked not to be identified, citing the issue’s sensitivity.
October 11, 2022
Clinical Trial Using Nicotine to Combat Memory Loss

Credit: Duster 112
A groundbreaking new clinical trial taking place at Georgetown University that is studying the use of nicotine to treat memory loss.
Georgetown University’s Clinical Trials Manager, Angelica Forero, said the study is personal for her. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Forero. “In my family, I have my grandmother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.”
Her grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease is inspiring her to find a cure. It’s called the “(MIND) study.”
“Don’t be afraid, nicotine has been around for a very long time. Nicotine is not bad, what is bad is the tar and chemicals used in cigarettes. Nicotine does not cause cancer or heart disease or respiratory illnesses,” Forero told abcNews7.
Forero maintains nicotine has been used for more than 30 years for conditions like Parkinson’s, depression, mental illness and now memory loss.
“So, we know that nicotine stimulates areas of the brain associated with memory and attention,” said Forero, adding thar they need more participants from minority communities.
“Hispanic and Black communities are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and memory impairment, higher than white adults. You make a difference. Whether you are Hispanic or Latino or Black or white, you make a difference in participating in clinical trials. The more people that we get, the better because we learn more about it and we just hope that it will become an approved treatment for mild memory loss just as a way to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Forero.
The MIND study is a guided trial, not something individuals should try in any form on their own. Click here to learn more.
There is no cost to take part in the MIND study, and Georgetown University will cover transportation costs for you to come to the 12 visits that are required. It’s a two-year commitment for participants in the trial.
October 11, 2022
VTA Skeptical of FDA’s Latest Youth Vaping Analysis

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its latest National Youth Tobacco Survey, Vapor Technology Association (VTA) Executive Director Tony Abboud said the FDA’s reporting of the data is misleading.
“Yesterday, the FDA, in coordination with the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ], released new data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) on e-cigarette use among U.S. youth,” Abboud stated. “The FDA represents the NYTS data to show that youth vaping ‘remains high,’ yet a deeper dive into the data show only a small uptick in experimental or infrequent use while regular use remains flat or is slightly down.
Abboud notes that since 2019, according to the CDC, the number of high school students who have tried vaping (1 time in the last 30 days) has dropped by 50 percent, and the number of middle school students has plummeted by 70 percent. During that same time period, the number of high-school students who ‘frequently’ vape dropped by 37 percent and the number of middle school students dropped by 65 percent.
” FDA’s near single-minded focus on youth who experiment with vaping versus those who are frequent users ignores what clearly is a consistent trend of youth away from vaping products. Rather than focusing on removing products from the market in an attempt to impact youth vaping, the FDA should instead support common-sense regulatory reforms that would better restrict access to products instead,” Abboud stated. “Simply removing products from the market is not the answer when those products are also proven to help adult smokers quit.”
Abboud explained that it is well documented that flavored vapor products help adult smokers to switch to less harmful vaping and “study after study after study” has confirmed the data. Since 2010, when e-cigarettes became widely available in the U.S., smoking rates have declined by more than half, he stated.
“Tobacco use is down. Youth vaping is down. These are both good things and are not in dispute. Unfortunately, there are still 40 million Americans addicted to cigarettes,” Abboud stated. “Every year, 500,000 die from smoking-related diseases and yet less than three percent of our kids are using vapes on a regular basis. The FDA’s failure to acknowledge this reality ignores the role vaping plays in harm reduction and smoking cessation, and puts more lives at risk.”
October 9, 2022
‘We Vape, We Vote’ Bus Tour Kicks Off in Arizona

Credit: AVM
A new bus tour to promote vaping in the U.S. began on Oct. 8. The event kicked off at American Vapor Manufacturers (AVM) president Amanda Wheeler’s vape shop, Jvapes Vape & Smoke Shop in Prescott, Arizona.
“Every American should have the right to use vaping to quit cigarettes. Critical health decisions should be up to the individual. Not the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]. Not the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. And certainly not nanny-state politicians in Congress,” the We Vape, We vote website states. “This fundamental belief underlies our entire effort. That’s why we need leaders who recognize vaping as a powerful harm reduction tool and the single most effective smoking cessation device ever created.”
The tour is designed to coincide with the midterm elections, and is intended to “amplify the voices of vapers in the 2022 elections,” according to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the Washington, D.C.-based organization sponsoring the tour. Events will include “rallies at vape shops, voter registration drives, discussions with lawmakers” and more, says ATR.
Alongside ATR and the AVM, the U.S. vape trade groups joining the tour are the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) and the Iowa Vape Association.
“Events will be covered by local media and promoted on our social media accounts, sending a clear message to lawmakers in state and federal legislatures that vaping saves lives and America’s vapers vote accordingly,” says ATR.
The tour will make 13 stops in 13 states, including Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The entire schedule can be found at WeVapeWeVote.org website.
October 9, 2022
WVA Campaigns for Harm Reduction in Strasbourg

Photo: WVA
As a kickoff for the #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign, representatives of the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) presented Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg with a “Vaping Products Directive” to show how e-cigarettes need to be treated to fulfill their potential as tobacco harm reduction tools.
The campaign launches as European legislators review the Tobacco Products Directive. Responding to the EU Commission’s public call for evidence, the WVA has spoken out against flavor bans and excessive regulation.
“By backing vaping, we can beat smoking and save 19 million lives with sensible regulation,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA. “The EU call for evidence has seen a record number of 24,000 responses, showing that consumers want to embrace tobacco harm reduction, and it happens that vaping has been proven one of the most successful so far.
“The EU needs to put an end to current discussions about flavor bans, and vaping must be kept affordable and accessible. It is time for the EU to fully endorse tobacco harm reduction and to make vaping a centerpiece of it.”
The #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign launched in Strasbourg, France, with a “Don’t Let 19 Million Lives Fall” protest art installation and will spread to 10 cities in six countries during October 2022 through November 2022.
“We will host community events and protests in France, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal and Belgium to draw attention to one of the most crucial pieces of legislation for the future of vaping. It is time for politicians to listen to consumers and science,” said Landl in a statement.
The WVA has also launched a petition against harmful vaping regulation, such as flavor bans or high taxation on vaping products. The signatures will be delivered to Members of the European Parliament at the end of the tour in November.

October 8, 2022
Snowplus its Expands Operations in the Philippines

Photo: Snowplus
Snowplus of China is expanding its vaping business in the Philippines, reports The Philippine Star.
Co-founder and head of overseas markets Derek Li is confident the company can build a good distribution network in the country.
Snowplus has invested $2 million in quality and safety research since 2019 and has received over $150 million in financing, which is among the largest funding for any startup in the e-cigarette industry.
Snowplus has also committed to raising industry quality and standards to deliver safe and reliable e-cigarettes to consumers in the Philippines.
In line with new vapor industry regulations in China, Snowplus recently obtained permission to operate from the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. The license authorizes the company to produce 80 million pods per year.
The company established three advanced scientific laboratories with equipment to test its products’ power supply and durability, among other characteristics.
“Consumers can trust Snowplus. We work only with the most reputable partners and deliver products of the highest quality that are 100 percent safe,” Li said.
October 7, 2022
Malaysia Removes NRT, not Vape from Poisons List

Photo: dalaprod
Malaysia’s Health Ministry has categorized nicotine-replacement products as nonpoisons to make them more accessible to consumers, reports The New Straits Times.
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the move was done by granting an exemption to nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952 for products in the form of patches or gum registered under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
“This exception is expected to help smokers, who are motivated to quit smoking, in dealing with the withdrawal symptoms,” said Khairy.
At present, smokers who want to quit smoking have limited access to nicotine-replacement products as they are regulated under the Poisons Act 1952.
Under the law, nicotine is classified as a “Group C poison” and can be dispensed only by licensed pharmacists or registered medical practitioners.
The New Straits Times article made no mention of nicotine vapor products, which tobacco harm reduction advocates consider to be the most effect nicotine-replacement products on the market.
Malaysian lawmakers are currently considering the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, which, among other measures, would ban the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone born after 2007.
October 7, 2022
FDA, Hyde Bar Disagree on MDO; Puff Bar Defiant

Credit: Jean Claude
It shouldn’t be this complicated. Magellan Technology says it didn’t receive a marketing denial order (MDO). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it did. It wouldn’t be the first time the regulatory agency made a mistake. The FDA seems to be making a habit of it recently.
Magellan claims that the FDA made a “glaring error” and the company did not receive an MDO for its 32 products under the Hyde brand. In an email, Jon Glauser, CEO of Magellan, stated that the FDA’s announcement is false for two reasons. First, the regulatory agency only issued the company a Refuse to Accept (RTA) letter and, second, the FDA failed to conduct a proper review of Magellan’s scientific evidence in its premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) review for its Hyde products.
“Contrary to the FDA’s statement, FDA only issued a Refuse to Accept letter for the identified Magellan products, not an MDO,” stated Glauser. “A Refuse to Accept letter is a refusal based on nothing more than a technical review of the applications’ contents which, in this case, was a missing document, i.e., a sworn certification related to the translation of certain components of the application. In other words, the Refusal to Accept was based on bureaucratic technicalities.
“This is much more than a misnomer or clerical error by the FDA since the agency elaborated that it had conducted a scientific review and reached a conclusion that the PMTAs ‘lacked sufficient evidence.’ However, no such scientific review was referred to and no scientific justification was provided in FDA’s correspondence today.”
Magellan currently has pending litigation against the regulatory agency with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals concerning an MDO issued by the FDA last year for Magellan’s pod-based Juno vaping products.
New FDA data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) shows that 2.5 million U.S. youth use e-cigarettes, according to the published findings in the Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report released by the FDA in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a slight rise over last year’s data.
Armed with this information, the FDA also issued Puff Bar (no relation to Magellan products) a warning letter for receiving and delivering e-cigarettes in the U.S. without a marketing authorization order. The FDA also requested a response within 15 working days of receiving the letter, detailing how the company intends to address the FDA’s concerns.
It’s at least the second letter the FDA has sent to Puff Bar without any follow-up action. The FDA issued at least two warning letters for Puff Bar’s non-tobacco nicotine disposable products.
During a Next Generation Nicotine Conference in Miami, Patrick Beltran, CEO of Puff Bar, said his disposable products were the “end of the road” for vaping products. “This is the end of the road for vaping in my opinion. It doesn’t get any more convenient for the consumer than a disposable vape device.”
Beltran then blamed U.S. retailers and Chinese manufacturers for the youth initiation issues. “We’re pioneering the disposable industry and the disposable sector of this industry, and it’s very tough when I go to the store and I see people and I see these brands being pushed and there is no enforcement whatsoever,” he explained. “I have to go … I have to spend millions of dollars on a PMTA. Juul, [expletive] Juul, and I’m sure everyone here has heard the news what happened … It’s all [expletive],” referring to Juul’s MDO that the FDA later retracted.
During GTNF 2022, a nicotine industry conference held in Washington D.C. in September, Brian King, director of the the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, the division charged with regulating next-generation tobacco products, discussed the FDA’s ability to force companies to comply with its MDOs (and warning letters). So far, very few companies that have been told to remove their products from the market have complied (including Puff Bar). King said the agency has multiple enforcement options to bring both manufacturers and retailers to heel.
“We have several tools available to us, including advisory actions,” he said. “We also have regulatory enforcement actions, including voluntary recalls as well as various other requested recalls. We can also take administrative action, civil money penalties (in terms of manufacturers, that penalty cannot exceed $15,000 for any single violation or $1 million for any number of violations related to a single action),” explained King. “When it comes to judicial action, we can do seizure, injunction and also criminal prosecution. I will say that when it comes to enforcement and compliance, nothing is off the table.”
The FDA has not taken any serious action against any vaping company for violating it’s orders. Puff Bar products can still be found at retailers across the U.S., even though the company has received multiple warning letters from the FDA.
Puff Bar has not received an MDO from the regulatory agency to date.
After reviewing PMTAs for 32 Hyde e-cigarettes, however, the FDA issued MDOs for the applications submitted by Magellan (the company argues they were actually RTAs). In conducting its scientific review, the FDA determined that the applications lacked “sufficient evidence demonstrating that the products would provide a benefit to adult users that would be adequate to outweigh the risks to youth.”
No Hyde products have received marketing authorization orders from the FDA.
“To be sure, the FDA expressly wrote to Magellan that ‘The absence of these required FDA forms impedes FDA ingestion and processing of applications.’ In other words, FDA could not have conducted any scientific review because it refused to accept the application,” wrote Glauser. “Our counsel has demanded that FDA not only retract the press statement it made but also issue a corrective statement making clear that FDA did not issue an MDO to Magellan and that it has not yet conducted a scientific review of Magellan’s products.”
The FDA has a history of making mistakes in the PMTA process. It’s currently facing more than 20 lawsuits and has had to retract MDOs from numerous companies, including Juul Labs, Turning Point Brands and Kavial Brands, among others.
“Magellan Technology looks forward to addressing whatever administrative technicalities are present so that FDA can, in fact, conduct a full scientific review of its products,” wrote Glauser.
October 7, 2022
Juul Labs Bankruptcy Conjecture Continues to Grow

Credit: Vitalii Vodolazskyi
Juul Labs may be preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to reports by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal and a tweet by Reorg reporter Harvard Zhang.
The vaping company has reportedly received inquiries from lenders and will soon formally request debtor-in-possession financing options.
“We will continue the preparation process for both a restructuring and other strategic options as we determine what path is best for our company,” a Juul spokesman said on Oct. 4.
Chapter 11 allows a company to continue operating while it works with a court and its creditors to reorganize its finances. It doesn’t necessarily herald the end of the company.
A pioneer in the vaping business, Juul Labs has gone from dominating the U.S. e-cigarette market to fighting for its survival in a relatively short time.
Following its initial success, the company quickly came under regulatory scrutiny over its marketing practices. Critics blame Juul Labs for contributing to an “epidemic” of underage vaping.
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Juul over the past several years, alleging that the company marketed its e-cigarettes to children. Juul has said it never marketed to underage users.
In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered Juul’s products off the market, then stayed the decision pending Juul’s appeal.
Last month, Juul agreed to pay at least $438.5 million in a settlement with more than 30 states.
The uncertainty over Juul’s ability to remain on the market could make it difficult for the vaping company to raise money or secure traditional loans to pay for legal settlements or court judgments.
In September, Juul’s largest shareholder, Altria Group, terminated its noncompete agreement with Juul. Altria’s decision gives Juul more options to secure its business, including the freedom to sell itself—or a significant stake—to one of Altria’s competitors.
The rumors about a possible Juul bankruptcy are not new. Clive Bates, director of The Counterfactual, described them as a “nothing burger with a side of thin air.”
“It has been obvious since @FDA maliciously denied Juul’s marketing application that Chapter 11 is a possibility,” Bates wrote in a tweet. “The ‘scoop’ is that this has not changed.”
October 6, 2022
Nov. 18 is New Date for UKVIA Forum and Dinner
The UKVIA Vaping Industry Forum and Celebration Dinner will now take place on Friday, Nov. 18 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London. The event had been canceled on Sept. 9, the day after the queen’s passing.
The agenda remains the same, and the UKVIA expects some additional speakers to be part of the lineup.
“We have had a fantastic response since the event was canceled, and we are looking to accommodate some additional speakers in our program,” said UKVIA Director General John Dunne in a statement. “We would like to thank delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and dinner guests for their patience, and we look forward to seeing everyone in November at what will be the biggest B2B event in the U.K. vaping calendar.
“The occasion will be particularly poignant as the original planned forum and dinner came the day after the announcement of the queen’s death. The event will allow us to pay tribute to Britain’s longest reigning monarch.”
While the original event had been at near full capacity, more tickets for the conference and dinner have now been released.
October 5, 2022