Japan Tobacco Inc. said today that the results of a clinical study had demonstrated a reduction in exposure to, and uptake of, selected harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in Japanese healthy adult smokers who switched to Ploom TECH, JT’s tobacco vapor product.
The study was conducted in consultation with a medical advisor, Yuji Kumagai, MD, PhD, a professor at the Kitasato Clinical Research Center.
The researchers randomly assigned 60 Japanese healthy adult smokers for five days to one of three groups: (a) a group whose members switched to Ploom TECH (PT); (b) a group whose members continued to smoke their own brand of combustible cigarette (CC); or (c) a smoking abstinence group (SA).
After the five-day study period, the levels of 15 biomarkers of exposure (BoEs) to selected HPHCs were found to have been significantly reduced in the PT group compared to those in the CC group.
And, significantly, the magnitude of the reduction in BoE levels observed in the PT group was similar to that observed in the SA group.
‘The study results show that completely switching to Ploom TECH from combustible cigarettes leads to significant reductions in exposure to, and uptake into the body of, selected HPHCs,’ JT said in a note posted on its website. ‘Although further research is required, these results strongly support the potential of Ploom TECH use to reduce the health risks associated with smoking.’
JT pointed out that, currently, there were no globally-agreed standards for assessing the relative risks to health associated with the use of different tobacco or other nicotine-containing products, though some countries had set guidelines in this field.
‘JT continues to engage in research and development to develop new methodologies to substantiate, through objective science, product risk reduction,’ the company said. ‘As we continue with our studies, we will communicate our progress via our science website – JT Science.’
Category: Harm Reduction
Healthy results for Ploom
E-cigs have vital role
Twenty-nine per cent of health professionals would not recommend electronic cigarettes to cancer patients who already smoked, according to research presented at the 2018 NCRI [UK National Cancer Research Institute] Cancer Conference, according to an NCRI story published at medicalxpress.com.
While vaping e-cigarettes might pose some health risks, the story said, evidence suggested it was much less harmful than was smoking.
Health bodies, including Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians, had given support for the use of e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative.
Researchers said their findings had highlighted the need for clearer guidance and training for health professionals around endorsing e-cigarettes to cancer patients who smoked.
The study was presented by Dr. Jo Brett, a senior research fellow in the faculty of health and life sciences at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
“Smoking is a well-established risk factor for many common cancers,” she said. “It is the single biggest avoidable cause of cancer in the world.
“Problems caused by smoking continue after a cancer diagnosis. It increases the risk of treatment complications, cancer recurrence and the development of a second primary tumour, leading to an increased risk of death. So it’s vital that these patients are encouraged to stop smoking.
“E-cigarettes are now the most popular intervention for smoking cessation in the UK.
“However, little is known about health professionals’ knowledge and attitude towards e-cigarettes and whether they are endorsing use of e-cigarettes with cancer patients.”Seeking common ground
The US Food and Drug Administration has been told that it should refrain from a crackdown across the vaping category but act decisively against its ‘bad actors’.
Jeff Stier, senior fellow at the Consumer Choice Center, offered this advice as the FDA prepares its new action plan on electronic cigarettes.
Stier put forward some ‘simple steps’ for the FDA to follow if it wanted to adhere to common ground.
“We should all be able to agree that e-cigarettes are not entirely safe and should not be used by kids,” said Stier.
“At the same time, as Public Health England has been saying for more than three years, e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes and can help smokers quit. To maximize protection to Americans of all ages, the FDA must finally formulate sensible, science-based policies to achieve two key goals:- “Prevent youth from initiating the use of any nicotine-containing product, including e-cigarettes.
- “Foster switching by adult smokers who have been unable to quit by other means.”
Stier said the FDA was threatening that, because of ‘news reports,’ public opinion and data about youth use that the agency hadn’t released, it might soon remove many e-cigarettes from the market, including most flavors, as well as the pods they come in, until a manufacturer applies for and receives approval for each product.
The agency was warning also that it might ban sales everywhere except in vape shops.
“But it’s not too late,” said Stier. “In its new plan, the FDA should implement the legitimate common ground by taking the following three steps:
1: “Focus on the bad-actors. The FDA should act swiftly and forcefully, as it has the authority to do, against any retailer caught selling an e-cigarette to a minor.
2: “The FDA must work constructively with the industry it regulates.
3: “Make good on the promise to change misconceptions about nicotine, which, while addictive, is not the major cause of tobacco-related disease.”
Stier then moved on to what he believed the FDA should not do:
1: “Remove e-cigarettes from all stores except vape shops.
2: “Allow either side to erode common ground. Just as the FDA shouldn’t be lenient with those who sell or give e-cigarettes to kids, it shouldn’t allow false assertions about the risks of e-cigarettes to stand unchallenged.
3: “Fall prey to the notion that the FDA has in its power the ability to prevent every last youth from ever trying an e-cigarette.”
Stier said that when it gave the FDA authority to regulate recreational lower-risk nicotine products, Congress believed the FDA could be sophisticated enough to prevent youth use while helping adults quit smoking.
“Sadly, to date, the FDA has accomplished little on either front,” he said. “These failures don’t justify a misplaced ‘crackdown’ on e-cigarettes. They require an intensive focus on stopping the bad actors.
“If the FDA doesn’t get it right – this month – President Trump should ask, in an exit interview, why FDA leadership couldn’t achieve a central promise of the administration: improving our lives not with more regulation, but with less of it, wisely implemented.”NGP portfolio heating up
Imperial Brands’ volume shipments of cigarettes and other tobacco products calculated as ‘stick equivalents’ (SE) during the 12 months to the end of September, at 255.5 billion, were down by 3.6 percent on those of the 12 months to the end of September 2017, 265.2 billion.
Within that overall volume, US-market volume was down by five percent to 22.1 billion.
In announcing its preliminary results for the year to the end of September, the company said that while its volume was down by 3.6 percent, it had outperformed industry volumes across its footprint.
It had achieved share growth in many of its priority markets, while its Growth Brand share had risen by 0.7 of a percentage point.
And it had enjoyed strong performances from ‘tobacco Specialist Brands: Backwoods, Kool, Rizla, Skruf and Premium Cigars’.
An improved price/mix had delivered tobacco net revenue growth of 0.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Imperial said it was delivering strong growth in next generation products focused on smoker conversion.
It was delivering a satisfying, safer experience with a trusted brand, blu, supported by leading-edge science
And it had a strong innovation pipeline focused on reduced risk products in the categories of vapor, heated tobacco and oral nicotine.
Pulze, the company’s first heated tobacco product, was planned to be launched in early 2019.
Tobacco and NGP (next generation products) net revenue was down by 0.3 percent, from £7,757 million to £7,730 million; tobacco and NGP adjusted operating profit was down by 1.1 percent, from £3,595 million to £3,557 million; distribution adjusted operating profit was increased by 17.3 percent from £181 million to £212 million; total adjusted operating profit was increased by 0.1 percent from £3,761 million to £3,766 million; and adjusted earnings per share were up by 1.9 percent from 267.0p to 272.2p.
‘FY18 was a successful year of delivery against our strategy and I’m pleased with the progress we are making in creating something better for the world’s smokers,’ said chief executive, Alison Cooper.
‘In NGP our main focus is on transitioning smokers to blu, a significantly less harmful alternative to cigarettes.
‘NGP also offers additive opportunities for our shareholders and the success of the international rollout of my blu has put us in a strong position to further invest and accelerate sales growth in FY19.
‘In tobacco we focus on providing smokers with an evolving portfolio of high-quality brands.
‘Following our additional brand investment in tobacco over the past two years, we have increased Growth Brand volume, share and revenue in our priority markets.
‘Our financial delivery was strong, with revenue and earnings growth, high cash generation and a further dividend increase of 10 percent.
‘Capital discipline remains central to all our activities, providing funds for investment and enhancing returns.
‘We have the strategy, assets and capabilities to realise the significant opportunities presented by a changing environment and to generate growing returns for our shareholders.’Targeting quit strategies
Tobacco control efforts targeted for those with mental health problems are urgently needed to increase quit rates for this group of smokers and to lower the prevalence of smoking overall, according to a story at medicalxpress.com quoting Renee Goodwin, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health (CMSPH).
Although increasing numbers of US smokers are quitting cigarettes, those with serious psychological distress are much less likely to do so.
A new study by scientists at the CMSPH and The City University of New York found that individuals with mental health problems quit cigarettes at half the rate of those without psychological distress. The findings are published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
“Overall, tobacco cessation programs have been very successful, but our research suggests that people with mental health problems have not benefited from these,” said Goodwin, the senior author of the report.
“It is increasingly clear that tobacco control efforts targeted for those with mental health problems are urgently needed to increase quit rates for this group of smokers and to lower the prevalence of smoking overall.”Inclusive report promised
The EU Commission has said that it will take into account all relevant information as it prepares for the submission in 2021 of its implementation report on the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
It was responding to an Irish member of the EU Parliament who had asked if the Commission would be taking account the contents of a UK parliamentary report and a letter signed by four academics – both of which had come out in favor of vaping – when the Commission produced its implementation report on the TPD.
In a preamble to his questions, Luke Ming Flanagan asked, with reference to the Commission’s statement that it continuously monitored developments, whether it was aware of the recent all-party UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report that was published on August 17 and that came out strongly in favor of vaping.
He asked also; was the Commission aware of the submission to the World Health Organization of a letter signed by four top academics, again outlining, in great detail, the case in favor of vaping.
And he asked if the Commission could confirm that it would now take those reports into consideration in the implementation report it was required to submit in 2021, in line with Article 28(1) of the directive.
In reply the Commission said it had taken note of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on E-cigarettes and was aware of the letter sent to the WHO by Dr. Abrams, Mr. Bates, Dr. Niaura and Mr. Sweanor on September 3, 2018.
‘The Commission will take all relevant reports and information into consideration for the upcoming implementation report that the Commission is required to submit in 2021, in line with Article 28(1) of the Tobacco Products Directive,’ it replied.JT's cigarette volumes up
Japan Tobacco Inc.’s domestic cigarette sales volume during the three months to the end of September, at 23.8 billion, increased by 1.3 percent on that of July-September 2017, 23.5 billion.
In announcing its consolidated results today, JT said that despite increased demand ahead of a tax-led retail price revision, cigarette industry volume had decreased 1.1 percent during the quarter, impacted by the expansion of the reduced-risk product (RRP) category and the underlying ‘natural decline trend’.
But JT’s cigarette sales volume had increased 1.3 percent led by a solid performance by the MEVIUS brand and the extra demand ahead of the price revision, estimated by JT as equivalent to about 0.4 of a month’s sales.
JT’s cigarette market share during the third quarter increased by 1.5 percentage points to 62.5 percent from that of the third quarter of the previous year, and increased by 0.9 of a percentage point on that of the second quarter of this year. JT said that it had achieved cigarette market share gains for three consecutive quarters.
Core revenue during the third quarter, at ¥172.2 billion, was increased by 15.8 percent on that of the third quarter of 2017, ¥148.7 billion. At the same time, adjusted operating profit increased by 19.5 percent to ¥69.3 billion.
Meanwhile, Japan Tobacco International’s total shipment volume during the three months to the end of September, at 114.5 billion, was increased by 9.3 percent on that of the July-September 2017, 104.8 billion.
Within that total, GFBs (global flagship brands) shipment volume was increased by 2.1 percent to 70.6 billion, from 69.2 billion.
The shipment volume growth of 9.3 percent was said to have been driven by acquisitions in Ethiopia, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia. ‘Excluding acquisitions and inventory adjustments, total shipment volume declined 1.1 percent,’ JT said. ‘Quarterly volume increases and market share gains in France, Germany, Iran, Poland, the UK, the USA and several emerging markets did not offset the impact of industry volume contraction, notably in Russia and Taiwan. GFB shipment volume increased 2.1 percent, driven by Winston (+ 4.8 percent) and Camel (+ 0.9 percent).
‘Core revenue and adjusted operating profit core revenue increased 9.0 percent driven by volume contribution from acquisitions and a strong price/mix. Adjusted operating profit grew 9.5 percent including investments to strengthen the business foundation in the markets where we made acquisitions.’
Including the results of its other businesses, JT’s July-September revenue increased by 9.7 percent to ¥600.5 billion, while its adjusted operating profit increased by 12.7 percent to ¥193.2 billion. Operating profit increased by 11.8 percent to ¥174.8 billion.
In announcing the three-month and nine-month results, JT group president and CEO, Masamichi Terabatake, said that the group’s solid performance in the third quarter was mainly driven by robust pricing gains in the international tobacco business, leading it to revise upwards its forecast for adjusted operating profit at constant foreign exchange for the full year.
“With strong momentum in our business, I am confident that the JT group is well positioned to achieve its mid- to long-term objectives, but we will continue to monitor the impact of currency movements and geopolitical risks,” he was quoted as saying.
“Our total market share increased in Japan, demonstrating the resilience of our business and the strength of our brands. As for reduced-risk products, establishing a low-temperature heating category is taking longer than expected. We are therefore increasing our efforts to communicate the differences and benefits of the product compared to a high-temperature heating category.
“In light of a changing regulatory environment and consumer trends, we are convinced that demand for the low-temperature heating products will grow further. Establishing this category remains our first priority to achieve a leading position, and as we expect the RRP market to be more competitive, we will invest for future growth.
“We will continue to provide a range of choices within our portfolio strategy, including conventional tobacco products as the platform of the group’s profitability and RRP as our future growth driver.”Attempt to calm moral panic
A group of academics and tobacco control and public health experts is trying to convince the US Food and Drug Administration to slow down and consider the risks of hasty regulation, according to a piece by Jim McDonald at Vaping360.
The National Tobacco Reform Initiative (NTRI) is said to have sent a letter to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, calling on the FDA commissioner to hold a summit of stakeholders to discuss the FDA’s policy on vapor products and vaping.
In introducing his piece, McDonald said the FDA seemed dead set on restricting the vapor industry very soon. The agency had given JUUL Labs and the four major tobacco companies that also sell vapor products 60 days to submit plans to eliminate sales to teenagers. That 60-day deadline expired soon after next week’s elections.
Meanwhile, McDonald said that NTRI co-ordinator Allan Erickson had written to Gottlieb saying that to address the situation fully would require the involvement and support of not only the FDA, but other stakeholders as well. Erickson, a former American Cancer Society vice president, believes that e-cigarettes can play a part in tobacco control efforts to reduce smoking.
‘We therefore wish to recommend that the FDA/CTP [the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products] sponsor a national dialogue related to youth use of tobacco and nicotine products as well as the need to provide the 30 million adult smokers in this country with lower risk alternative tobacco and nicotine products, to be held sometime in early 2019,’ he said in his letter.
The NTRI leadership includes David Abrams and Ray Niaura of New York University (both formerly with the Truth Initiative), former American Heart Association vice president Scott Ballin, and former American Cancer Society president John Seffrin. The organization’s advisory group includes Clive Bates and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. Miller was one of the state attorneys general who sued the tobacco companies, leading to the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. He was the chair of the Truth Initiative board last year.
McDonald’s piece says, however, that the NTRI letter may be too late to affect Gottlieb’s thinking.
‘He’s shown no signs of cooling his reckless “epidemic” rhetoric,’ McDonald said. ‘There’s nothing the FDA commissioner needs more now than wisdom from clear-headed and open-minded veterans of the tobacco wars. But he appears less and less likely to listen.’Fiddling as the air kills
Xian has become the latest city in China to ban tobacco smoking in public places, according to a story in The South China Morning Post.
This latest ban follows those introduced in Beijing in 2015 and in Shanghai and Shenzhen in 2017.
The Chinese government outlawed smoking in enclosed public places nationwide in 2011, but the ban, which was not backed by penalties, was barely implemented at local level and, when it was, it was poorly enforced.
The authorities in Xian announced that, effective from November 1, smoking in enclosed public places would be prohibited, including on public transport.
Smoking is due to be banned, too, in some outdoor public places such as sports stadiums, children’s parks and school playgrounds.
The laws were published in full on the website Xian News on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the eastern city of Hangzhou amended a proposed ban on indoor smoking earlier this year after lobbying from China Tobacco, the state tobacco manufacturer, according to a Reuters report. Now, the city must provide designated indoor smoking areas.
Xian’s new legislation has been welcomed by public health experts at the World Health Organization.
“This 100 percent smoke-free regulation is a wonderful gift for the people and visitors of Xian,” said Dr. Shin Young-soo, the WHO’s regional director. “It is the gift of health and air free from harmful second-hand smoke.
However, as was reported here yesterday, there is no escape. The WHO says that toxic air that billions of people breath every day is the ‘new tobacco’.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the WHO has declared that air pollution is a public health emergency that is killing seven million people every year and seriously damaging the health of many more.
‘Despite this epidemic of needless, preventable deaths and disability, a smog of complacency pervades the planet,’ Tedros said. ‘This is a defining moment and we must scale up action to urgently respond to this challenge.’ZYN factory going up
Swedish Match’s snus shipments in Scandinavia during the three months to the end of September, at 66.6 million cans, were increased by about eight percent on those of the three months to the end of September 2017, 61.7 million cans.
During the same periods, shipments of moist snuff in the US were down by about six percent to 31.7 million cans, while shipments of snus and nicotine pouches outside Scandinavia were increased by 97 percent to 6.9 million cans.
Swedish Match’s share of the Swedish snus market was down by 2.2 percentage points to 63.2 percent, while its share of Norway’s snus market was down by 1.1 percentage points to 51.0 percent.
The company’s US cigar shipments during the three months to the end of September, at 427 million pieces, were increased by about five percent on those of the three months to the end of September 2017, 405 million pieces.
During the same periods, the company’s chewing tobacco shipments, excluding contract-manufacturing volumes, fell by about seven percent to about 1,526,000 pounds.
Swedish Match reported that, in local currencies, sales increased by 10 percent for the third quarter, while reported sales increased by 16 percent to SEK3,388 million.
Also in local currencies, operating profit from product segments (excluding other operations and larger one-time items) increased by 13 percent, while reported operating profit from product segments increased by 19 percent to SEK1,317 million.
Operating profit amounted to SEK1,305 million, while profit after tax amounted to SEK959 million.
Earnings per share increased by 32 percent to SEK5.55.
In presenting Swedish Match’s three-month and nine-month results, CEO Lars Dahlgren (pictured) said that the company had delivered another quarter of very strong financial results. Sales and operating profit in local currencies had increased for the two largest product segments, snus and moist snuff, and Other tobacco products, while the Lights product segment had had a relatively stable year-on-year performance.
‘Snus and moist snuff product segment sales grew by 12 percent and operating profit increased by 17 percent in local currencies, with strength coming from both our Scandinavian snus business and our snus and nicotine pouches outside Scandinavia,’ he said.
‘Both the Swedish and Norwegian snus market grew at a robust pace compared to the prior year. In particular, we noted an acceleration of category volume growth in Sweden. Intense competitive activity and product innovations within the premium segment have been positive for the development of the snus category. We also believe that the exceptionally warm summer contributed to higher snus consumption this year.
‘The changeover to plain packaging in Norway has gone smoothly, but it is still early to assess if there will be any longer-term category implications.
We estimate that total Scandinavian snus market growth, measured on a volume basis, was close to seven percent during the quarter. On balance we are relatively pleased with the performance of our more recent product introductions in the Scandinavian snus market, but overall our portfolios have lagged category growth in both Sweden and Norway during the quarter. Despite the loss in market share, we estimate that the underlying (excluding V2 Tobacco and Gotlandssnus) volume growth for our Scandinavian snus business reached four percent, a strong growth rate relative to historical levels.
‘For international snus and nicotine pouches, we have now for two consecutive quarters reported positive operating results, stemming from strong volume growth for ZYN, improved pricing, and reduced marketing spending for US snus.
‘With the acquisitions of V2 Tobacco, and more recently Gotlandssnus, we have expanded our portfolio to include a range of unique snus products that not only provide growth opportunities in Scandinavia, but also present an ability to expand our international snus portfolio. In September, we introduced V2’s Thunder Xtreme, a range of strong snus products in the US.
‘Construction efforts directed towards our new ZYN production facility in Owensboro, Kentucky, continue according to plan.
‘Other tobacco products (cigars and chewing tobacco) had another good quarter, with sales and profit growth in cigars more than offsetting declines in sales and profits for our US chewing tobacco business in local currencies.
Cigar shipment growth continued to be driven by our rolled leaf assortment despite the price increase taken earlier in the year.
‘Given the rapid growth within the rolled leaf segment, we are facing increasing challenges in securing certain tobacco supplies but we have implemented measures that we expect will improve the situation during the first half of 2019.
‘The acquisitions of V2 Tobacco and Oliver Twist (with their chew bags and tobacco bits) delivered positive contributions to both sales and operating profit…’
