Event name:
Evaluation of the Abuse Liability of White Fox Nicotine Pouch ProductsSession Date:
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Session Speakers:
Swedish Smokeless manufactures the White Fox brand of nicotine products. These are oral pouches containing synthetic nicotine intended for adult tobacco consumers interested in nicotine satisfaction. This study evaluated the abuse liability of 2 White Fox pouch products compared with own-brand cigarettes, General Snus®, and Nicorette® gum in smokers who had experience using smokeless tobacco. This was a randomized, open-label 5-way crossover study that measured nicotine plasma concentrations, subjective effects (including Product Liking and Urge to Smoke) under controlled-use conditions, and product use behaviors under ad libitum-use conditions. All of the oral products were liked less and suppressed urge to smoke less than own-brand cigarettes (p<0.0001). In general, White Fox Pouch Products reduced the urge to smoke and were liked more than Nicorette gum (p<0.005) but did not differ from General Snus. Nicotine plasma concentrations peaked (Tmax) at ~7 minutes following initiation of own-brand cigarettes, with a mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of 21 ng/mL. Tmax occurred later and Cmax was higher following use of White Fox Pouch Products (Cmax of 32-38 ng/mL; Tmax of 34 minutes). Nicotine absorption from General Snus pouch and Nicorette gum products was slower compared with White Fox Pouch Products (Tmax of 40 minutes) and Cmax values were lower at 11 and 6 ng/mL, respectively. When given the choice (Ad Libitum over 4 hours), subjects chose to smoke a mean of 5 own-brand cigarettes, use 3 General Snus, chew 3 Nicorette gum, and use 1-2 White Fox Pouch Products. Despite being used less relative to other products, Cmax values at the end of Ad Libitum Use were highest for White Fox Pouch Products (~27 ng/mL vs. 22 ng/mL for OBC), suggesting that subjects may have self-titrated. Results suggest that White Fox Pouch Products have lower abuse liability compared with own-brand cigarettes, similar abuse liability compared with General Snus and greater abuse liability compared with Nicorette gum.