http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/reducedrisk.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=11128055&nav=menu577_11_3_5 http://tobacco.org/news/293176.html If you've ever seen someone holding an electronic cigarette, blowing "smoke" in a nonsmoking area, they are not defying the law. Why? Because it's not smoke, it's water vapor that contains the drug nicotine along with other chemicals. People who use e-cigarettes say that "vaping" - e-cigarette lingo for smoking - satisfies their nicotine craving. But the FDA warns that e-cigarettes may not be safe. Ask someone why they are puffing on an e-cigarette and they are likely to tell you it's just like smoking or that it tastes good. Some e-cigarettes are flavored. They may tell you they e-smoke to help them quit cigarette smoking. There's no tobacco, like in a regular cigarette. But it does deliver nicotine and other dangerous chemicals from a device that the FDA has not approved. . . . How does the e-cigarette differ from the nicotine inhaler? Nicotine inhalers are another form of FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy. You need a doctor's prescription to use them. The inhaler consists of a thin plastic tube. Inside is a cartridge that holds a measured amount of nicotine. You inhale on the mouth end of the tube and nicotine is delivered to the mouth. Again, the cartridges use gradually reduced amounts of nicotine as you withdraw from the drug. The nicotine inhaler is a proven effective method to help you quit smoking. E-cigarettes are still being researched in clinical trials. WWSB ABC 7 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=35361&catid=105 http://tobacco.org/news/293172.html Talk's of a black market are already underway on many social sites and forums across the internet as the decision comes closer on the fate of the electronic cigarette in a federal court. Other than several special interest groups that are funded by huge pharmaceutical companies putting pressure on the Food & Drug Association to act against them, the general public and health officials are singing praises over the electronic cigarette. News articles that attacks the electronic cigarette has comment areas that are stuff full with scientist and doctors, along with many of the population showing evidence of the need, want and support for this wonderful new product that nearly all ex smokers are calling a "lifesaver". Since the Food & Drug Association was in the spot light on the faulty testing procedures during their preliminary test on the electronic cigarette, and using personnel on the advisory board that have clear conflicts of interest concerning the electronic cigarette industry, the pubic is already showing signs of looking for other ways to get the electronic cigarette and saying that they will not use tobacco products by the same pharmaceutical companies that are funding the special interest fight against them. OfficialWire jeff.hti@gmail.com (Jeff Smith (OfficialWire) ) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/star-scientific-transitions-to-new-nasdaq-trading-symbol-71513592.html http://tobacco.org/news/293166.html Star Scientific, Inc. has announced that effective at the market opening on Monday, November 23, the NASDAQ trading symbol used by the company, STSI, is being changed to CIGX. Paul L. Perito, Star's Chairman, commented that "the change in trading symbol reflects our intent to signal more prominently the company's core mission and business, which is to reduce the harm associated with tobacco use. We have stated since the beginning that the most dangerous way to use tobacco is to inhale cigarette smoke into the human lungs, and that the best choice always will be to stop smoking." PR Newswire smachir@starscientific.com ( SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/movie-star-told-her-to-try-e-cigarettes-124601.php http://tobacco.org/news/293087.html more and more health professionals are giving the nod for the use of electronic cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to smoking tobacco. . . . One e cigarette company, SS Choice in Southlake, Texas, was recently contacted by Debbie Depp Rassel, the sister of actor Johnny Depp. She told the company representative how she and her mother just couldn't quit tobacco cigarettes and that their mother's doctors had been telling her to quit for the last two years. Two months ago she told Johnny about their mom's condition and he suggested they try "e cigarettes". Electronic cigarettes are widely used in the United Kingdom where Mr. Depp resides. She immediately contacted eCigarettesChoice.com and ordered two starter kits of their SS Choice No 7 which look just like the real thing. In a recent email to the company owner, Ms. Rassel stated that, "My mom is a different person since quitting; she doesn't have to use breathing treatments anymore, and you have given us back our mom. In a billion years, I can't thank you enough." While the electronic cigarette has not been tested or approved as a smoking cessation product or sold as such, reports such as this are common. 24-7PressRelease.com Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2009/1118/1224259040621.html http://tobacco.org/news/293032.html Need a nicotine hit? Want to beat the smoking ban? A smokeless cigarette could be the answer, for the long - or short - haul. Just be prepared for some funny looks, writes ROSEMARY Mac CABE . . . Ryanair now sells the other most popular type, in the form of Similar smokeless cigarettes. Ryanair's head of communications, Stephen McNamara, says the product was introduced due to customer demand. "Some passengers can find it stressful to spend long journeys without a cigarette so we introduced the product based on customer feedback and to cater to passenger demand. It seemed a logical step to introduce a product that could provide smokers with relief from nicotine withdrawal. . . . I spent a day with Ryanair's Similar branded smokeless cigarettes: a packet of 10, purchased for €6 on board a Ryanair flight, to see how it feels to smoke on the right side of the law. The first thing I notice is that they smell, to all intents and purposes, like what one's mother might call "sucky sweets" - irrefutably better than mainstream cigarettes, albeit slightly strange. They feel like real cigarettes and, crucially, they look like them. . . . Smoking a cigarette that looks like a cigarette, acts like a cigarette but neither tastes nor feels like a cigarette (while giving you more nicotine than a cigarette) seems an odd choice. Irish Times rmaccabe@irishtimes.com (ROSEMARY Mac CABE) Ireland Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=34978&catid=105 http://tobacco.org/news/292926.html LPD Services, a U.K. based lab that is fully accredited has submitted the results of its findings on the Gamucci line of e-cigarettes. As most have suspected, the lab indicated that the electronic cigarette is much safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes. There have been several reports from highly credible labs around the world on the e cigarette. One from South Africa, New Zealand, the U.K. and several others that are high profile in nature and performed by stout anti-smoking advocates that believe in harm reduction. All of these labs came back with the same result: the e cigarette is many times safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes. There seems to be an air of change on the horizon concerning the e cigarette with strong lab results supporting claims of a smarter and safer choice over the tobacco cigarette. Top anti-smoking advocates like Dr Murray Laugesen, who has been the recipient of top awards from the World Health Organization in his fight against the harm of tobacco, supports the e cigarette. Professor Michael Siegel is a doctor also and another strong advocate for harm reduction OfficialWire gaultmarketing@gmail.com (Tiffany Ellis (OfficialWire) ) Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=291022&Itemid=30 http://tobacco.org/news/292857.html Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) In their October briefing, ASH in the United Kingdom has released a favorable position on electronic cigarettes which is nearly 180 degrees to the position ASH in the United States has taken. ASH's UK Position on E-cigarettes "ASH supports a harm reduction approach to tobacco, that is, we recognize that whilst efforts to help people stop smoking should remain a priority, many people either do not wish to stop smoking or find it very hard to do so. For this group, we believe that products should be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without the harmful components found in tobacco. Most of the diseases associated with smoking are caused by inhaling smoke which contains thousands of toxic chemicals. By contrast, nicotine is relatively safe. Therefore, e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco smoke, are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking. In addition, e-cigarettes reduce secondhand smoke exposure since they do not produce smoke." Kyle Newton of eCigarettesChoice.com is elated at the release. "This is the second piece of good news for the E cigarette industry this week. The first was Governor Schwarzenegger's refusal to ban E cigarettes in California. It is a David vs. Goliath battle for us against organizations that are well-funded by companies who stand to lose a huge market share to the E cigarette." On the other side of the big pond, ASH, USA has hammered the electronic cigarette industry unmercifully in its public claims against the product. But throughout this entire finger pointing, they have failed to produce any scientific research which tested the electronic cigarette and could trump the positive data "real" tobacco researchers have published. PR USA.net UK USA Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091117006205&newsLang=en http://tobacco.org/news/292807.html The Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) today urged decision-makers to seek alternatives to combustible tobacco that reduce Americans' exposure to the multitude of harmful chemicals and toxins found in cigarettes. His remarks came in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study released last week showing that smoking rates among U.S. adults have risen for the first time since 1994. "We applaud the valiant campaigns designed to encourage people to quit smoking and urge that federal, state, and local governments continue to warn people about this unhealthy and deadly habit," said ECA President Matt Salmon. "However, we also believe, given the CDC data, that harm-reduction strategies are desperately needed to reduce smokers' exposure to the thousands of harmful chemicals and toxins that are delivered through combustible cigarettes." Salmon said that electronic cigarettes, battery-operated products that deliver an inhalable nicotine vapor Business Wire msalmon@ecassoc.org (Electronic Cigarette Association) Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/physicians-urge-fda-to-justify-condemnation-of-e-cigarettes-70265572.html http://tobacco.org/news/292790.html "We urge FDA to make public the laboratory data behind the July 22 condemnation of electronic cigarettes, along with comparable data on pharmaceutical nicotine products and conventional cigarettes. Then, on the basis of these data, either fully justify or retract the July 22 condemnation of electronic cigarettes," says Joel L. Nitzkin, Chair of the American Association of Public Health Physicians Tobacco Control Task Force in a letter to the FDA. The letter specifically targets the new tobacco legislation that passed through Congress this summer which gives the FDA power to regulate tobacco products in the United States and notes that the success rate of current smokers who attempt to quit by using pharmaceutical aids is as low as 5%. Making smokers more aware of less harmful alternatives, snus and e-cigarettes included, could significantly reduce the amount of smokers who die due to tobacco-related illnesses. "Contrary to prevailing conventional wisdom, virtually all the heart and lung disease from conventional cigarettes, and an estimated 98% of the cancer mortality, are due to direct inhalation of fresh products of combustion deep into the lung. Our best estimate (based on the work of Pankow et al and others) is that only about 2% of the cancer mortality from cigarettes is from the named carcinogens commonly found in tobacco products," says the letter. The FDA's study in July found miniscule amounts of carcinogens in a few e-cigarette cartridges, but failed to provide any data on the amount of those same carcinogens in pharmaceutical nicotine products. PR Newswire Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/nov2009/db20091110_263697.htm http://tobacco.org/news/292469.html It would be either one of the most cynical diversifications ever--or a brilliant stroke of synergy. If a report in The Wall Street Journal is correct, America's second-largest seller of cigarettes may soon be peddling products that help people quit smoking. The Journal reported on Nov. 9 that Reynolds American (RAI), the distributor of Pall Mall, Camel, and Natural American Spirit cigarette brands as well as smokeless tobacco, is in "advanced talks" with Niconovum, a Swedish manufacturer of nicotine replacement products such as gum and mouth spray. University of Ottawa law professor David Sweanor told the Journal he was briefed by people close to the deal. The move would mark the first time that a big tobacco company also sold smoking-cessation products, according to industry analysts. But it would be in line with the industry's efforts to diversify as cigarette purchases shrink in the U.S. One analyst referred to a purchase of Niconovum as a "cheap hedge" against the smoking decline. . . . But as Morningstar's Gorham points out, Reynolds can make far more money convincing people to smoke than helping them quit. The cost per unit to produce cigarettes is extremely low—operating margins average 25%-30% industrywide, he says, which is high for consumer goods. (Pepsi (PEP), by comparison, which enjoys enormous scale and volume operating margins, reaches into the high teens, according to Gorham.) It's unlikely that returns from smoking-cessation products can compete with that anytime soon. "I think we're talking 20 years-plus at this point before tobacco sales are offset by other sources," says Gorham. Indeed, some view any talks between Reynolds and Niconovum as more of a publicity stunt, designed to place Reynolds in a better light. Business Week Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/star-scientific-inc-reports-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-bid-price-files-third-quarter-report-with-sec-69603372.html http://tobacco.org/news/292421.html Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: STSI) reported today that on November 5, 2009 it received a deficiency letter from NASDAQ staff indicating that the company is not in compliance with the NASDAQ minimum bid rule. The letter noted that for the previous thirty consecutive trading days the company's minimum closing bid price per share had been below the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement set forth in NASDAQ Rule 5450(a)(1). In accordance with Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), Star has 180 days, or until May 4, 2010, to regain compliance. In its notice NASDAQ indicated that if at any time during this period the minimum closing bid price is $1.00 or more per share for at least ten consecutive trading days, NASDAQ will provide confirmation that the company has regained compliance and the matter will be closed. The deficiency letter has no effect on the current listing or trading of Star Scientific shares. PR Newswire smachir@starscientific.com ( SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.) Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/11151-1257855975-electronic-cigarettes-do-what-tobacco-companies-have-refused-to-do-for-the-past-38-years.html http://tobacco.org/news/292401.html At the time it was believed that the tobacco companies did not want to market the improvements and make cigarettes safer as it would force them to acknowledge that normal cigarettes are unsafe. This was a time when there were a lot of legal cases from cancer sufferers who were blaming the tobacco companies for their bad health and it would prove very difficult to fight against them. The patents which date back to 1971 range from reducing tar through removing carbon monoxide and polonium (A radioactive compound used to assassinate an ex KGB agent a few years ago in London). It is widely believed that if the Tobacco companies had acted responsibly over the past 38 years of these patents then we would all be living in a society where Electronic Cigarettes may not even be needed but instead they protected their income and left users to die. "I honestly find it shocking that the research and development has been available to some of the biggest financial budgets in the world and they refused to act on them purely out of self protection of their cigarette sales." Online PR News sales@cheap-electronic-cigarettes.co.uk Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nbcactionnews.com/content/cfa/story/E-Cigarettes-Under-Fire/HdjNw0EFfUibG7ZzLFFx6A.cspx http://tobacco.org/news/292379.html As more cities ban smoking in restaurants and bars, there is a newer product to the United States that makers claim you can still smoke indoors. It's under fire from cities across the country, the Food and Drug Administration and a metro parent. If you've been to the mall lately, you may have seen a kiosk selling electronic cigarettes. We've found the kiosks at Independence Center and Oak Park mall. If you walk past the kiosk at Oak Park, a salesperson will ask if you smoke. At Smoke51 we were shown a product that closely resembled a real cigarette. It comes with a battery and filter and even comes in flavors. "There's a heating element that steams water, nicotine, and flavor so you're going to see me blow out smoke but it's actually steam or water vapor," the salesman said. There are many questions about how this product is marketed. KSHB-TV NBC 41 /mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=546274@kshb.dayport.com ( Reported by: Jenn Strathman ) Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/star-scientific-plans-worldwide-marketing-and-sales-of-cigrxtm-nutraceutical-in-partnership-with-inventiv-health-69128222.html http://tobacco.org/news/292184.html Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: STSI) announced today that the company plans to introduce the CigRx(TM) nutraceutical product developed by its subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, for worldwide marketing and sales in partnership with inVentiv Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTIV). inVentiv Health offers a complete range of commercialization solutions for every stage of the product lifecycle, in a range of healthcare categories that includes nutraceutical products. The company has marketing and sales capabilities in 40 countries around the globe. Jonnie R. Williams, Star's CEO, stated, "Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. However, the global cigarette business, which now exceeds $300 billion, continues to grow. Our goal is to make CigRx(TM) available to adult smokers worldwide who wish to maintain a nicotine-free metabolism." Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals will be responsible for the manufacturing of CigRx(TM), and the company anticipates that inVentiv Health will be involved in the product marketing and sales, with a focus on product education for physicians and health care professionals, as well as consumers. PR Newswire Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091105005807&newsLang=en http://tobacco.org/news/292173.html As the debate heats up concerning the use of electronic cigarettes, Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) President Matt Salmon today encouraged those involved in this discussion to carefully and honestly study how these devices work and recognize that the more than one million adult committed smokers, who use electronic cigarettes, are seeking an alternative to combustible cigarettes that contain a multitude of toxic, harmful chemicals. The debate on these devices has intensified in recent months as events have fueled and focused attention on electronic cigarettes, including a front-page story last week and a follow-up editorial in yesterday's edition of USA Today and stories or editorials in other major newspapers such as the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Governor Schwarzenegger's veto of a bill that would have denied California citizens the right to purchase electronic cigarettes and a warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on a flawed, narrow study have also contributed to the growing debate. "Unfortunately, many of the arguments we've seen recently against electronic cigarettes have been driven by fear of the unknown, insufficient evidence, political agendas, and ignorance about our members' products," said Salmon. "As in the case of California Governor Schwarzenegger, we've found that reasonable people, when willing to honestly and intellectually evaluate the information about electronic cigarettes, find that these products provide smokers a viable alternative to combustible tobacco cigarettes." Business Wire msalmon@policyimpact.com Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT