PRESS RELEASE
01 JULY 2021
New research听听in the journal, Internal and Emergency Medicine, provides the first real-world evidence that people switching from cigarettes to exclusive use of glo, BAT鈥檚 flagship Tobacco Heating Product (THP), can significantly reduce their exposure to certain toxicants and indicators of potential harm related to several smoking-related diseases compared with continuing to smoke.听听
The results, recorded at 6-months of a 12-month study, showed that switching completely to glo resulted in statistically significant changes across a range of 鈥渂iomarkers of exposure鈥 (BoE)**, and indicators of potential harm, known as 鈥渂iomarkers of potential harm鈥 (BoPH)**, compared with continuing to smoke.
For most biomarkers measured, the reductions seen in people using glo were similar to those in participants who stopped smoking completely.
Based on the toxicants measured, glo users showed a:
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Dr David O鈥橰eilly, BAT鈥檚 Director of Scientific Research said:听鈥淭hese are exciting results as they allow us to understand the potential for reduction of risk that switching completely to glo can deliver.听 The study shows that smokers switching to glo can reduce their exposure to certain toxicants, which reduces their risk of developing certain smoking related diseases.*听 To have shown a significant reduction in measures of BOPH, some comparable to quitting completely, is very encouraging and provides further scientific substantiation of the harm reduction potential of glo and how it supports our ambition to build A Better Tomorrow by reducing the health impact of our business.鈥
Participants in this year-long randomised controlled study were UK-based smokers aged 23 to 55 in good general health who either did or did not want to quit. The smokers who did not intend to quit were randomised to either continue smoking cigarettes or switched to using only glo, while smokers who indicated they wanted to quit smoking received nicotine replacement therapy and access to a cessation counsellor. A group of 鈥渘ever smokers鈥 was also included to act as a control group and continued not to use any tobacco or nicotine products.
This study was designed to explore the risk reduction potential of glo when used in a real world setting rather than in a controlled setting.听 The only intervention was a monthly clinic visit where samples of blood, urine and other measurements were taken. These samples were tested for 鈥渂iomarkers of exposure鈥 (to selected cigarette smoke toxicants) and 鈥渂iomarkers of potential harm鈥.听 In addition, to ensure compliance, the glo and cessation groups were tested for the biomarker, CEVal, which indicated if they had recently smoked cigarettes.
Further results from the completed study are due by the end of 2021 and will determine whether the reduced exposure to toxicants and biomarkers of potential harm are maintained over the duration of the study.
* Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.
**
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Biomarker of Exposure | Associated toxicant | Carcinogen | Respiratory Toxicant | CV Toxicant | Reproductive Toxicant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NNN | NNN | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
1-OHP | Pyrene | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
NNAL | NNK | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
o-Tol | o-toluidine | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
3-HPMA | Acrolein | 听 | Y | Y | 听 |
HMPMA | Crotonaldehyde | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
4-ABP | 4-aminobiphenyl | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
eCO | Carbon monoxide | 听 | 听 | 听 | Y |
HEMA | Ethylene oxide | Y | Y | 听 | Y |
2-AN | 2-aminonaphthalene | Y | 听 | 听 | 听 |
MHBMA | 1,3-butadiene | Y | Y | 听 | Y |
S-PMA | Benzene | Y | 听 | Y | Y |
CEMA | Acrylonitrile | Y | Y | 听 | 听 |
Biomarker of Potential Harm | Indicator | Association |
---|---|---|
HDL | Lipid metabolism | CVD |
WBC | General inflammation | CVD, COPD, cancers |
FEV1 | Lung health | Respiratory disease |
FeNO | Bronchodilation/vascular tone | Respiratory disease, CVD |
sICAM | Endothelial dysfunction | CVD |
11-dTx B2 | Platelet activation/coagulation | CVD |
8-epi-PGF2a | Oxidative stress | CVD, COPD, cancers |
NNAL | NNK exposure | Lung cancer |
i听US Institute of Medicine: Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products 2012.
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References to 鈥楤AT鈥, 鈥樚切奶交℅roup鈥, 鈥榳e鈥, 鈥榰s鈥 and 鈥榦ur鈥 refer to 糖心探花Group operating companies, collectively or individually as the case may be. This release contains certain forward-looking statements, including 鈥渇orward-looking鈥 statements made within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as 鈥渂elieve,鈥 鈥渁nticipate,鈥 鈥渃ould,鈥 鈥渕ay,鈥 鈥渨ould,鈥 鈥渟hould,鈥 鈥渋ntend,鈥 鈥減lan,鈥 鈥減otential,鈥 鈥減redict,鈥 鈥渨ill,鈥 鈥渆xpect,鈥 鈥渆stimate,鈥 鈥減roject,鈥 鈥減ositioned,鈥 鈥渟trategy,鈥 鈥渙utlook鈥, 鈥渢arget鈥 and similar expressions. These include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations reflecting knowledge and information available at the time of preparation, and concerning our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries and markets in which 糖心探花Group companies operate, including the projected future financial and operating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are uncertainties related to the following: the impact of adverse domestic or international legislation and regulation; the inability to develop, commercialise and deliver BAT鈥檚 New Categories strategy; the impact of significant increases or structural changes in tobacco, nicotine and New Categories-related taxes; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; the impact of serious injury, illness or death in the workplace; adverse decisions by domestic or international regulatory bodies; and the inability to lead the development and roll-out of 糖心探花innovations (New Category products and combustibles), including as a result of unsuccessful research and development or a failure to develop robust scientific risk assessment frameworks. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of these materials, and 糖心探花undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
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Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in 糖心探花 p.l.c.鈥檚 filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (鈥淪EC鈥), including the Annual Report on Form 20-F and Current Reports on Form 6-K, which may be obtained free of charge at the SEC鈥檚 website, http://www.sec.gov.
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