Noncombustible Nicotine Delivery Systems as Potential Harm Reduction Tools for Persistent Cigarette Smokers

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: E-cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, Harm Reduction, Tobacco Use

In brief

This between-subjects study aims to evaluate whether e-cigarettes (ECIGS) versus oral nicotine pouches (ONPS) more readily substitute for combustible cigarettes among 200 cigarette smokers. After measuring baseline cigarette smoking rate, participants will be randomized to ECIGS or ONPS and be instructed to switch (versus smoking cigarettes) over a 6-week period. Relative reductions in biomarkers of exposure will be measured. ECIG- and ONP-associated subjective reward and the reinforcing value of ECIGS and ONPS relative to combustible cigarettes will be assessed as mechanisms.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06372899

Run by

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

People needed

200

Starts

2024-10-02

Expected to finish

2028-03-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-12

Who can join

Age: 21 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Able to communicate fluently in English (i.e. speaking, writing, and reading)
• Male and female smokers who are > 21 years of age and self-report smoking at least 5 cigarettes (menthol and/or non-menthol) per day for at least the last 6 months.
• 5 or more failed quit attempts and the use of smoking cessation medication on at least one prior attempt.
• Have a carbon monoxide (CO) greater than 10 ppm.
• Not using any forms of nicotine regularly other than cigarettes
• Be willing to switch to e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches for 6 weeks.
• Plan to live in the area for the duration of the study.
• Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form.

You may not qualify if…

• Smoking Behavior
• Regular use of nicotine-containing products other than cigarettes (e.g., chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, cigars, e-cigs, etc.). Regular e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use is defined as greater than 5 days/past 30 days.
• a. Participants agreeing to abstain from using nicotine-containing products other than cigarettes for the duration of the study will be considered eligible.
• Current enrollment or plans to enroll in a smoking cessation program over the duration of the study.
• Current use of smoking cessation medication
• Provide a CO breath test reading less than 10 ppm at Intake.
• Alcohol and Drug
• History of substance abuse (other than nicotine dependence) in the past 12 months.
• Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 20 standard drinks/week.
• Current use of recreational drugs (other than nicotine and cannabis)
• Breath alcohol reading (BrAC) greater than .000 at Intake.
• Medical
• Women, including all individuals assigned as "female" at birth, who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy over the duration of the study period.
• Serious or unstable disease within the past year (e.g. cancer, heart disease). Applicable conditions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Principal Investigator.
• Psychiatric
• Lifetime history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
• General Exclusion
• Past, current, anticipated, or pending enrollment in another research program over the study period that could potentially impact subject safety, study data, and/or the study design as determined by the Principal Investigator.
• Any medical condition, illness, disorder, adverse event (AE), or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or significantly impact study performance as determined by the Principal Investigator. Subjects may be deemed ineligible for any of the aforementioned reasons at any point throughout the study, as well as during the initial telephone screen.
• Significant non-compliance with protocol and/or study design as determined by the Principal Investigator. Subjects may be deemed ineligible at any point throughout the study.

Where it is running

• University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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