The Transition from Combustible to Smokeless Products Science

Traditionally and in addition to efforts to reduce the risk associated with tobacco products, companies' research focused on areas such as understanding the products or measuring tobacco and smoke,^[1] while academic researchers focused on medical studies relating to the harm caused by cigarette smoking.^[2] Tobacco and nicotine science was typically published in specialist tobacco- or combustion-related scientific journals and presented at scientific conferences.

The 21st century saw a new wave of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) interest that changed the landscape.^[3] There became a need to publish data on new categories of products, including Heated Products, Vapour Products, and Oral Nicotine Pouches, to contribute to the scientific understanding of how they performed chemically and toxicologically. This coincided with cross-industry and government efforts to develop new ways of testing products that did not involve the use of animals.^[4]

At BAT, we recruited scientists with a range of expertise and set out a new programme of research, seeking to publish in widely read and often medical-based peer-reviewed journals.

To substantially increase transparency, we opened our R&D facilities to host scientific conferences; developed a dedicated science website, www.bat-science.com, and began publishing Science and Technology reports on research intentions and findings.^[5] We also set out risk assessment frameworks covering chemistry, toxicology, consumer use, and clinical studies, to assess whether new products could deliver on their harm reduction potential.^[6] It became essential to develop partnerships with Contract Research Organisations (independent laboratories used by a range of industrial and academic researchers) and ensure the use of internationally-recognised research approaches on toxicology^[7] and ethical ways to conduct clinical studies.^[8,9] Details are also published on publicly accessible trials websites^[10] so that anyone can follow the subsequent findings.

Tobacco and nicotine science continues to have its critics, and some journals have banned the publication of such research.^[11] Others have accepted our research, subject to the rigorous scientific procedures of peer-review by independent scientists.^[12] Publication rate, particularly on THR issues, has dramatically accelerated over the past decade and our researchers are now invited to speak at expert workshops such as those held by the U.S. FDA Center for Tobacco Products.^[13,14]