Weekly Vape News 2

Welcome to the weekly vape news of the week. This article covers the vape news happened in United Kingdom, United States and worldwide during July 2-8, 2023.

1. JUUL sues NJOY for patent infringement

Juul Labs has taken legal action against NJOY for patent infringement. Last Friday, the company filed lawsuits with both the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and a federal district court, accusing NJOY’s Ace e-cigarette of violating Juul’s patents. The legal action encompasses NJOY and its recently acquired parent company, Altria Group. In its complaints, Juul is seeking to halt the importation and sales of these products in the United States through the intervention of the commission.

2. New research from multiple countries suggests that electronic cigarettes do not harm the cardiovascular system

New research conducted by medical teams from various countries, including Italy and the United States, has concluded that electronic cigarettes do not pose significant risks to the cardiovascular system.

In a recent joint publication, these medical experts have found that electronic cigarettes have far less detrimental effects on cardiovascular health compared to traditional tobacco cigarettes. The latter are known to increase the risk of serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, and stroke, contributing to the alarming statistics of 20.5 million annual deaths from heart disease and stroke worldwide, as reported by the World Heart Federation (WHF).

The study emphasizes that electronic cigarettes have a minimal impact on cardiovascular health, offering a safer alternative for smokers. This finding provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of electronic cigarettes in reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular diseases, as an estimated 550 million people worldwide suffer from such conditions.

It is important to note that this research contributes to the ongoing scientific discourse surrounding electronic cigarettes and their potential health effects. Further studies and evaluations will likely continue to shed light on this subject in the future.

3. Supreme appointed as the UK distributor for ELFBAR and LOST MARY brands

On July 5th, it was reported that Supreme has been chosen as the official distributor for the ELFBAR and LOST MARY e-cigarette brands in the United Kingdom. As part of this partnership, Supreme will supply ELFBAR and LOST MARY products to major retailers in the UK, including Tesco, Morrison, One Stop, and WHSmith Travel. This collaboration marks an important milestone for Supreme and reinforces their position in the e-cigarette market in the UK. The arrangement aims to provide wider accessibility and availability of ELFBAR and LOST MARY products to UK consumers through established retail channels.

4. UK regulatory agency issues enforcement notice regarding e-cigarette advertisements on TikTok

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) in the UK has recently issued an enforcement notice, directing e-cigarette companies to adhere to advertising regulations and remove all e-cigarette ads on social media platforms, including TikTok.

In a statement, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) acknowledged that certain brands are placing or promoting content related to e-cigarette products and components on TikTok. The ASA has cautioned these brands and warned that targeted enforcement measures will be taken if the issues persist.

This action by CAP and the ASA highlights their commitment to ensuring compliance with advertising standards and protecting consumers from potentially misleading or inappropriate e-cigarette advertisements. By addressing the presence of these ads on popular social media platforms, they aim to safeguard public health and promote responsible advertising practices within the e-cigarette industry.

5. Rutgers University-Led Consortium Awarded $18 Million FDA Grant for Real-Time Tobacco Monitoring

In a significant development, a consortium led by Rutgers University has secured a substantial $18 million grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a cutting-edge surveillance initiative. The project aims to provide the FDA with real-time data on tobacco and nicotine marketing, products, and consumer behavior to enhance the regulation of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

The Rutgers University Tobacco Research Center, under the leadership of Cristine Delnevo, Director of the center and Chief Research Officer of the Rapid Surveillance Center, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative. Delnevo emphasized that this groundbreaking endeavor had never been attempted before, and the comprehensive information gathered in real-time would enable swift analysis and dissemination. The Rapid Surveillance Center is poised to furnish the FDA with meaningful, up-to-date data for informed decision-making.

The recently launched Rutgers University Tobacco Rapid Surveillance Center, operational since June 1st, will collect and analyze a range of data. These include:

Information sourced from marketing company databases, tobacco manufacturer websites, social media platforms, and retail channels to identify emerging marketing strategies.

Analysis of retail scanner data to track tobacco product sales and detect trends related to novel product characteristics such as innovative flavors or delivery mechanisms.

Triangulation of survey results obtained from adolescents, young adults, and adult tobacco and nicotine product users to gain insights into preferences and behaviors.

Integration of data to promptly identify significant trends and provide actionable information to the FDA, enhancing their ability to regulate tobacco products effectively.

The $18 million funding, allocated for a period of five years, will enable researchers to swiftly identify and analyze crucial information, promptly alerting the FDA for appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions. Notably, the collaboration addresses a past instance where the surge in e-cigarette use among young people in 2017-2018 was linked to JUUL, a prominent brand. However, due to the absence of brand-specific inquiries in federal surveys, the FDA’s response was limited. Subsequently, brand-specific data collected in 2019 clarified JUUL’s popularity among young e-cigarette users, leading to the implementation of an enforcement policy by the FDA.

Cristine Delnevo highlighted the significance of early detection, emphasizing that signals of JUUL’s popularity among young people were evident as early as 2017. Swift and comprehensive surveillance facilitates timely comprehension of emerging trends and enables proactive measures.

The competition for this project saw various institutions vying for the opportunity, with Rutgers University ultimately chosen for its robust monitoring methodologies, deep expertise in monitoring diverse tobacco product categories, and a history of early trend identification.

The establishment of the Tobacco Rapid Surveillance Center aligns with the FDA’s endeavor to streamline PMTA-related work and build a repository of expertise and databases. This collaborative effort signals the FDA’s heightened attentiveness to changes in the U.S. e-cigarette market, while simultaneously accelerating the narrowing window for products yet to apply for PMTA approval. With the Rutgers University-led consortium already operational as of June 1st, the dynamic landscape of the American e-cigarette market can expect a more vigilant FDA oversight in the future.