Author: Marissa Dean

Flavors Help Smokers Quit

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People are more likely to quit smoking combustible cigarettes by vaping if they receive help choosing the right flavor, plus supportive messages, according to new research reported by Filter.
The journal Addiction recently published a study conducted by London South Bank University (LSBU) that involved 1,214 eligible participants who were heavy smokers and expressed interest in quitting by using vapes. The researchers recruited these participants through social media.
They then tested five remote interventions aimed at helping people switch—mostly online surveys that produced recommendations based on individual responses. The interventions were “tailored device selection advice; tailored e-liquid nicotine strength advice; tailored e-liquid flavor advice; brief information on relative harms; and text message (SMS) support.”
“Simple tailored advice on selecting a flavor along with supportive text messages could increase quit rates by 55 percent,” said Lynne Dawkins, professor of nicotine and tobacco studies at LSBU and one of the study authors.
By offering different groups of participants different interventions (including all or none of them), the study sought to determine which combination was most effective.
“In the adjusted model,” the researchers concluded, “the only significant interaction was a two-way interaction, advice on flavor combined with text message support, which increased the odds of abstinence [from cigarettes].”
August 14, 2023
New Hungarian Rules May Backfire

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Proposed amendments to Hungary’s rules on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches may hinder access to safer alternatives for smokers, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA).
“While it’s important to ensure the safety and proper labeling of nicotine products, it’s equally crucial to avoid excessive regulation that could impede the availability of harm reduction products for smokers looking to transition away from combustible cigarettes,” said WVA Director Michael Landl in a statement.
The proposed amendments, with a maximum nicotine content of 17 mg per consumption unit, reflect an approach that may inadvertently limit the appeal of nicotine pouches to smokers seeking alternatives, according to critics.
“Moreover, the WVA expresses concerns about the potential implications of the draft decree’s proposed modifications to vaping product regulations,” the organization wrote. “The amendments, which target unit packet definitions, nicotine amounts and labeling requirements, could impose unwarranted restrictions on vaping products. While addressing health concerns is important, the proposed changes should be carefully evaluated to ensure they do not deter smokers from adopting less harmful alternatives.”
Whilst health and safety standards are crucial, regulations should be crafted with a balanced approach that considers both consumer health and the potential of these products to save lives, according to Landl.
“We encourage the Hungarian government to start accepting reality: harm reduction works. This year, Sweden is becoming the first smoke-free country due to a consumer-friendly harm reduction approach,” he said. “It is high time to learn from the Swedish experience and thereby save thousands of Hungarian lives. With a smart harm reduction approach, Hungary can become smoke-free.”
August 14, 2023
Warnings for Unauthorized Smokeless Products

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to Amarillo Snuff Co. on Aug. 11, 2023, for manufacturing, selling and/or distributing unauthorized smokeless nicotine products, including products that are made with corn husks instead of tobacco leaves, according to an FDA release.
The unauthorized products contain nontobacco nicotine, which falls under the FDA’s regulation authority.
“Last year, Congress clarified FDA’s authority to regulate tobacco products containing nicotine from any source, which closed a loophole that several companies were using to try to evade regulation,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “Our authority over these products is clear, and FDA is committed to holding those responsible for illegal products accountable for their actions.”
The cited products lack FDA marketing authorization. To date, the FDA has not authorized any nontobacco nicotine products.
After receiving a warning letter, recipients have 15 working days to respond with steps they will take to correct and prevent future violations; failure to promptly correct violations can result in additional FDA actions such as injunction, seizure and/or civil money penalties.
“A majority of firms that receive warning letters correct their violations, but if they fail to do so, the products are subject to enforcement,” said Ann Simoneau, director of the CTP’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement. “FDA continues to bring enforcement actions, including injunctions and civil money penalties, as appropriate.”
As of July 28, 2023, the FDA has issued about 600 warning letters to manufacturers of unauthorized tobacco products, with 100 of the letters being for unauthorized nontobacco nicotine products. As of June 30, 2023, the FDA has issued more than 2,800 warning letters and 825 civil money penalties for sales of e-cigarettes to underage purchasers, with over 1,000 warning letters and more than 140 civil money penalties relating to sales violations of nontobacco nicotine products to underage consumers.
August 11, 2023
Japan: Smoking Rates Continue to Decline

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Smoking rates for men and women in Japan continued to decline in 2022, according to health ministry survey data, reports Kyodo News.
The male smoking rate fell 3.4 percentage points compared to 2019 data, and the female smoking rate fell 1.1 percentage points.
The survey classified smokers as respondents who said they either “smoke every day” or “sometimes have days where I smoke.” The rate of tobacco use was highest among men in their 40s (34.6 percent) followed by men in their 50s (32.6 percent) and men in their 30s (29.9 percent). The rate of tobacco use among women was highest for those in their 50s (12 percent) followed by those in their 40s (11.6 percent) and those in their 30s (9 percent). Almost all age groups showed a drop in usage from the 2019 data.
In April 2020, the revised health promotion law came into effect in Japan, banning smoking indoors at many locations and requiring businesses that allow indoor smoking to install separate spaces for smokers.
August 11, 2023
Tobacco Used to for Cancer Antibodies

Photo: Baiya Phytopharm
Thailand researchers have successfully used tobacco plants to develop antibodies that have inhibitory effects on the growth of cancer cells in laboratory animals, according to News-Medical.
“Our research team has developed the technology and system to produce plant proteins to make antibody drugs, with the hope to help reduce the cost of drug production so that cancer patients in the country can access drugs more easily and widely,” said Waranyoo Phoolcharoen, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chulalongkorn University, where the research is taking place.
The potential of the research was recognized with a 2023 research award from the National Research Council of Thailand.
The researchers are using an Australian species of Nicotiana benthamiana.
“We use plants as factories to produce the proteins we need,” said Phoolcharoen. “We insert antibody-producing genes into tobacco plants in order for the tobacco plants to produce the antibodies (drugs) we need. The extracted protein (antibody) is then purified. We found that the antibodies produced by the plants can bind to proteins on the surface of immune cells.”
“The antibodies that the research team produced from plants can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in laboratory animals,” Phoolcharoen said. “The size of the tumor cells in mice decreased. This ability to make cells shrink in size is comparable to that of the drugs used in the market.”
The next steps in the research are testing for safety and toxicity and studying the structure of the drug.
“If this research is successful, we will be able to produce our own medicines locally, reducing the cost of drug production and lowering medicinal expenses. More people will then have access to cancer medicines,” said Phoolcharoen.
The technology used in this research could also be used to produce antibodies to develop drugs or vaccines for many other diseases.
Phoolcharoen has also been involved in a venture to produce a Covid-19 vaccine using tobacco plants.
August 11, 2023
Tax Free World Association Director Steps Down

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John Rimmer, managing director of the Tax Free World Association (TFWA), will step down from his position and leave the TFWA effective Oct. 30, 2023.
Rimmer joined the TFWA in October 2012 as director of conferences and research. He was promoted to managing director in October 2017 following Alain Maingreaud’s retirement.
“On behalf of the management committee, the board and the entire team at TFWA, I would like to thank John for his valuable contribution to the development and success of TFWA since he joined and wish him every success going forward,” said Erik Juul-Mortensen, president of the TFWA, in a statement.
The search for a new managing director has been initiated, and an announcement will be made in due course, according to the TFWA.
August 11, 2023
KT&G Helps Harvest Tobacco

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KT&G volunteers helped farmers in South Korea’s Chungnam Province harvest tobacco.
The cultivation of leaf tobacco takes place in July and August. The work is mostly performed by hand, resulting in a high labor intensity due to the difficulty of mechanization. Tobacco farming communities struggle to secure labor due to continuous rural depopulation and aging issues.
To help farmers struggling with labor shortages, KT&G has visited leaf tobacco farms every year since 2007. Earlier this year, KT&G volunteers assisted farmers with the transplanting of tobacco seedlings.
Additionally, KT&G supports the welfare of domestic tobacco farmers. In June, the company provided over KRW520 million ($396,657) in financial aid to cover health checkup expenses, children’s education expenses and support for fuel-saving windbreak heaters.
“KT&G remains committed to organizing yearly volunteering activities involving our executives and employees,” said Kim Jung-ho, the director of the headquarters of KT&G’s raw materials division, in a statement. “These efforts aim to uphold consistent and stable cultivation practices for leaf tobacco farmers confronting labor shortages. The support we offer to farmers to foster mutual growth continues to persist.”
August 10, 2023
Pyxus Revenues Jump Nearly 40 Percent

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Pyxus International announced results for its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Sales and other operating revenues were $477.1 million, up 38.7 percent compared to 2022. Operating income increased $29.4 million to $36.4 million. Net income was $0.8 million, improving $15.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased $27.5 million to $43.5 million.
For the full 2024 fiscal year, Pyxus continues to expect sales to be between $1.9 billion and $2.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA to be between $155 million and $180 million.
“Fiscal 2024 is off to a strong start with higher tobacco prices, accelerated timing of shipments and a favorable shift in customer mix fueling a 39 percent increase in revenue and improved profitability compared to the prior year,” said Pyxus President and CEO Pieter Sikkel in a statement.
“In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we believe we reached the peak of our fiscal 2024 tobacco purchases as we significantly accelerated our buying, using our geographic footprint to acquire tobacco inventory from multiple markets to meet higher current crop supply requirements and customer demand for fiscal 2024. Customer shipments in fiscal 2024 will utilize a higher percentage of tobacco purchased during the current fiscal year to fulfill orders compared to the prior year given our uncommitted inventory continues to be historically low.
“Our continued focus on aggressively managing our working capital provided sufficient liquidity through short-term borrowings under our foreign seasonal lines of credit, availability under the ABL Credit Facility, cash generated from operations and cash collections from our securitized receivables to purchase larger volumes of more expensive tobacco compared to the prior year. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we increased our purchases of inventory by more than $100 million compared to the prior year using $40 million of incremental foreign seasonal lines of credit and our improved cash conversion cycle.
“We anticipate ongoing strong demand as undersupply conditions are expected to persist through fiscal 2024. We believe our positive first-quarter results position the company to achieve our previously announced fiscal 2024 guidance for sales between $1.9 billion and $2.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA between $155 million and $180 million. We are proud of the progress our global teams have made thus far and thank them for their unwavering commitment to our customers and their focus on achieving the company’s objectives so that together we can grow a better world.”
The company held a conference call to report financial results for the period ended June 30, 2023, on Aug. 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. For those who were unable to listen to the live event, a telephonic replay of the conference call will be available by dialing (647) 362-9199 or (800) 770-2030 and entering the access code 2624736.
August 10, 2023
Vaping Could Save U.K. Half A Billion Pounds

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The U.K. National Health Service (NHS) could save over GBP500 million ($636.9 million) annually if half of England’s adult smokers switch to vaping, according to a Brunel University London report.
“If smokers transitioned to RRPs [reduced-risk products], it would significantly reduce the pressure on the NHS and free up much-needed hospital resources for other treatments,” said Francesco Moscone, professor and business economics expert at Brunel University London and study author. “Under a 50 percent conversion scenario, with half of smokers turning to RRPs, the NHS would save an estimated [GBP]518 million in an average year. If the conversion rate was just 10 percent, the NHS would save [GBP]103 million.”
“We are delighted that this new research from Brunel University London reinforces the findings of our own economic impact report,” said John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, in a statement. “The potential savings to the NHS from smokers switching to vaping are enormous, and at a time when the NHS is desperately crying out for more funding and government budgets are squeezed so tightly, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
“I sincerely hope that these two reports will give the government more impetus to really push the positive impacts that vaping has for the health of our nation and the finances of our country.
“Only last week, ASH [Action on Smoking and Health] revealed shocking data, which showed that four in 10 smokers wrongly believe vaping is as or more harmful than smoking—up from one in five in 2019.
“Misinformation in the mainstream media about the relative health risks of smoking and vaping was one of the reasons given for this increasing lack of knowledge, and unless the government acts to educate smokers about the real risks, then lives will continue to be needlessly lost.”
“Cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the five main disease categories caused by smoking cigarettes. Such illnesses put significant burdens on the NHS, which we know is already under increasing pressure,” said Moscone. “Although the long-term effects of RRPs are still unknown, we know from previous research that alternatives to traditional cigarettes result in a 90 percent reduction in the exposure to chemicals that are major contributors to health risks.”
The study was published in the British Journal of Healthcare Management.
August 9, 2023
KT&G Releases 2022 Integrated Report

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KT&G has published its 2022 Integrated Report: An ESG Overview, encompassing sustainability management strategies and performance.
The publication has three key sections: the Strategic Report, outlining the group’s novel vision; the ESG Report, detailing performance across various ESG domains; and the ESG Factbook, displaying the global information disclosure index and quantitative accomplishments.
Introduced within the Strategic Report of this publication, KT&G provides insights into its 2027 New Vision, combining prospective growth strategies with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Moving forward, the company aims to channel its strengths into mobilizing business structure innovation, fostering sustainability alongside the spread of important ventures like next-generation products and health-functional foods.
KT&G says it has made significant progress toward achieving its ESG objectives. Among other things, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5 percent over a two-year period, even as it stepped up production at its Korean and international sites. KT&G aims to increase its use of renewable energy sources by more than 18 percent, mainly through the installation of solar power systems.
On the social front, KT&G helped address challenges through its Sangsang Planet and Sangsangmadang initiatives.
Recognizing sustainability as intrinsically tied to corporate value, “KT&G has boarded a fresh vision, seamlessly weaving it into our widespread growth strategy,” said KT&G CEO Baek Bok-in in a statement. “Imposing the strengths of our growing ventures, we will rise as an outstanding global enterprise, targeting over 50 percent of our sales from international markets within the upcoming five years.”
August 9, 2023