Artificial Sweeteners in US-Marketed Oral Nicotine Pouch Products: Correlation with Nicotine Contents and Effects on Product Preference.

Introduction: Artificial sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame-k, are listed as ingredients of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs), a product category with rapidly growing market share. The exact quantities of these sweeteners in ONPs remain unknown. Artificial sweeteners in ONPs may reduce aversion, facilitate initiation and encourage consumption behavior.

Introduction of nicotine analogue-containing oral pouch products in the United States.

In 2023, 6-methyl nicotine (6MN), a synthetic nicotine analog, was introduced in US-marketed electronic cigarette products advertised as exempt from regulation. It is unknown whether the use of 6MN has spread to other product categories. Industry reports, patent and trademark databases were searched for 6-methyl nicotine products.

Marketing for Sensa: A novel "zero nicotine vapor product" from a major tobacco company.

On July 1, 2024, RJ Reynolds Vapor Company (RJRVC) introduced Sensa, the first disposable "zero nicotine vapor product" from a major tobacco company. Sensa sold more than 100,000 units as of September 10, 2024 and has been marketed through several channels. Direct-mail and magazine ads appeal to consumers' senses (e.

Introduction of Nicotine Analogue-Containing Oral Pouch Products in the United States.

Background: In 2023, 6-methyl nicotine (6MN), a synthetic nicotine analogue, was introduced in US-marketed electronic cigarette products advertised as exempt from regulation. It is unknown whether the use of 6MN has spread to the oral nicotine pouch product category that has become increasingly popular.

Methods: Industry reports and the USPTO database were searched for informationon 6-methyl nicotine products.

Marketing of nicotinamide as nicotine replacement in electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires tobacco product manufacturers to submit Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTA) for new products, granting marketing approval only if deemed appropriate for the protection of public health. Historically, the tobacco industry has exploited loopholes in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), especially related to the definitions of nicotine, tobacco product and characterizing flavors, to circumvent the PMTA requirement. In 2023, the industry introduced several 'PMTA-exempt' e-cigarette and smokeless products, including products containing 6-methyl nicotine, a synthetic nicotine analog that is pharmacologically more potent than nicotine.

Artificial Sweeteners in US-Marketed Oral Nicotine Pouch Products: Correlation with Nicotine Contents and Effects on Product Preference.

Introduction: Artificial sweeteners are listed as ingredients of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs), a new product category with rapidly growing market share. The exact sweetener contents of ONPs remain unknown. Artificial sweeteners in ONPs may facilitate initiation and encourage consumption behavior.

Recapitulation of human pathophysiology and identification of forensic biomarkers in a translational model of chlorine inhalation injury.

Chlorine gas (Cl) has been repeatedly used as a chemical weapon, first in World War I and most recently in Syria. Life-threatening Cl exposures frequently occur in domestic and occupational environments, and in transportation accidents. Modeling the human etiology of Cl-induced acute lung injury (ALI), forensic biomarkers, and targeted countermeasures development have been hampered by inadequate large animal models.

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24: Ion channels.

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24 is the sixth in this series of biennial publications. The Concise Guide provides concise overviews, mostly in tabular format, of the key properties of approximately 1800 drug targets, and over 6000 interactions with about 3900 ligands. There is an emphasis on selective pharmacology (where available), plus links to the open access knowledgebase source of drug targets and their ligands (https://www.

An electronic cigarette pod system delivering 6-methyl nicotine, a synthetic nicotine analog, marketed in the United States as "PMTA exempt".

As of April 14, 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been authorized to regulate tobacco products containing nicotine from any source, including synthetic, requiring manufacturers to submit a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA). A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that non-nicotine tobacco alkaloids or other synthetic nicotine analogs could be used by manufacturers to bypass regulatory schemes focusing on nicotine alone. From October 2023 on, vape stores in the United States started selling a new electronic cigarette pod system, named Spree Bar, advertised as "PMTA exempt", with youth-appealing flavors and advertising.

Synthetic cooling agent in oral nicotine pouch products marketed as 'Flavour-Ban Approved'.

Background: US sales of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) have rapidly increased, with cool/mint-flavoured ONPs the most popular flavour category. Restrictions on sales of flavoured tobacco products have either been implemented or proposed by several US states and localities. Zyn, the most popular ONP brand, is marketing Zyn Chill and Zyn Smooth as 'Flavour-Ban Approved' or 'unflavoured', probably to evade flavour bans and increase product appeal.

Synthetic Cooling Agent and Candy Flavors in California-marketed "non-Menthol" Cigarettes.

Rationale: The ban of menthol cigarettes is one of the key strategies to promote smoking cessation in the United States. Menthol cigarettes are preferred by young beginning smokers for smoking initiation. Almost 90% of African American smokers use menthol cigarettes, a result of decades-long targeted industry marketing.

Synthetic Cooling Agent in Oral Nicotine Pouch Products Marketed as "Flavor-Ban Approved".

Background: US sales of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) have rapidly increased, with cool/mint-flavored ONPs the most popular. Restrictions on sales of flavored tobacco products have either been implemented or proposed by several US states and localities. Zyn, the most popular ONP brand, is marketing Zyn-"Chill" and Zyn-"Smooth" as "Flavor-Ban Approved", probably to evade flavor bans.

The E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury Epidemic: Pathogenesis, Management, and Future Directions: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a severe pulmonary illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products that was officially identified and named in 2019. This American Thoracic Society workshop was convened in 2021 to identify and prioritize research and regulatory needs to adequately respond to the EVALI outbreak and to prevent similar instances of disease associated with e-cigarette or vaping product use. An interdisciplinary group of 26 experts in adult and pediatric clinical care, public health, regulatory oversight, and toxicology were convened for the workshop.

Ice flavours and non-menthol synthetic cooling agents in e-cigarette products: a review.

E-cigarettes with cooling flavours have diversified in ways that complicate tobacco control with the emergence of: (1) Ice-hybrid flavours (eg, 'Raspberry Ice') that combine cooling and fruity/sweet properties; and (2) Products containing non-menthol synthetic cooling agents (eg, Wilkinson Sword (WS), WS-3, WS-23 (termed 'koolada')). This paper reviews the background, chemistry, toxicology, marketing, user perceptions, use prevalence and policy implications of e-cigarette products with ice-hybrid flavours or non-menthol coolants. Scientific literature search supplemented with industry-generated and user-generated information found: (a) The tobacco industry has developed products containing synthetic coolants since 1974, (b) WS-3 and WS-23 are detected in mass-manufactured e-cigarettes (eg, PuffBar); (c) While safe for limited oral ingestion, inhalational toxicology and health effects from daily synthetic coolant exposure are unknown and merit scientific inquiry and attention from regulatory agencies; (d) Ice-hybrid flavours are marketed with themes incorporating fruitiness and/or coolness (eg, snow-covered raspberries); (e) WS-23/WS-3 concentrates also are sold as do-it-yourself additives, (f) Pharmacology research and user-generated and industry-generated information provide a premise to hypothesise that e-cigarette products with ice flavours or non-menthol cooling agents generate pleasant cooling sensations that mask nicotine's harshness while lacking certain aversive features of menthol-only products, (g) Adolescent and young adult use of e-cigarettes with ice-hybrid or other cooling flavours may be common and cross-sectionally associated with more frequent vaping and nicotine dependence in convenience samples.

Differences in flavourant levels and synthetic coolant use between USA, EU and Canadian Juul products.

Background: 'Juul' is the dominant US e-cigarette brand and was recently introduced to Canada, UK, France, Germany and Italy, with several flavours available across countries. US/Canadian products are sold with 5%, 3% and 1.5% (Canada only) nicotine content, whereas European Union (EU) regulation limits nicotine content to 1.

Formation of flavorant-propylene Glycol Adducts With Novel Toxicological Properties in Chemically Unstable E-Cigarette Liquids.

Introduction: "Vaping" electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is increasingly popular with youth, driven by the wide range of available flavors, often created using flavor aldehydes. The objective of this study was to examine whether flavor aldehydes remain stable in e-cigarette liquids or whether they undergo chemical reactions, forming novel chemical species that may cause harm to the user.

Methods: Gas chromatography was used to determine concentrations of flavor aldehydes and reaction products in e-liquids and vapor generated from a commercial e-cigarette.