NetworkNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: It’s no secret that cigarettes, a product
whose toxins and carcinogens have shown time and again to cause
illness and a long list of cancers, are addictive. Finding a way to
stop smoking is an individual battle, although there is hope that
new products are on the horizon that may help millions of people
win the fight. Several significant research and development
projects being undertaken by such innovators such as
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE:LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP)
(LXRP
Profile) a company with proprietary technology capable
of changing the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) such
as nicotine enter the body. Even leading tobacco brands like
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE: BTI), Philip Morris
International (NYSE: PM), Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) and
Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) are showing
interest in contributing to the shift toward nicotine-infused
products and away from combustible cigarettes.
What, No Smoke?
That’s the goal, isn’t it? Products on the market today meant to
help smokers “kick the habit” are behind the counter of nearly
every store that carries dozens of cigarette brands. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration has approved several forms of nicotine
replacement therapy such as gum, transdermal patches, sprays,
inhalers or lozenges, and all are meant to help relieve some of the
physical withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to quit smoking
(http://nnw.fm/2Nd9L). Interestingly, the legal
age for tobacco products and inhalant delivery system such as
e-cigarettes in Oregon was just raised from 18 to 21, effective
January 1, 2018. That legislation puts Oregon in company with
California, Hawaii, Maine and New Jersey as the only states with
such a legal limit (http://nnw.fm/d12X2). The goal, according to state
officials, is to stop young people from first picking up a
cigarette and avoid joining the millions of people who die each
year because of tobacco use.
Promising Research
Research teams at Lexaria
Bioscience Corp. (CSE:LXX) (OTCQB: LXRP), based in Kelowna,
British Columbia, Canada, have developed a new, disruptive drug
delivery platform called “DehydraTECH™ that changes the way APIs
enter the body via oral consumption. Lexaria’s patented delivery
method could give the estimated 69 percent of U.S. adult smokers
who say they want to quit a new way to do just that. Utilizing
Lexaria’s DehydraTECH™ technology to formulate edible products
containing nicotine and/or its analogues for this purpose offers
unique advantages to the consumer. The company’s newly issued U.S.
patent award covers the use of DehydraTECH™ technology as a broad
delivery platform for a broad range of APIs, including all
cannabinoids, fat soluble vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
pain medications (“NSAIDs”), and nicotine (http://nnw.fm/Do3iO).
“This wide-ranging patent allowance from the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office exceeds our expectations” Lexaria Bioscience Chief
Executive Officer Chris Bunka stated in a press release (http://nnw.fm/4NAWd). “This vastly expanded
intellectual property protection will enable us to aggressively
pursue new business opportunities in 2018 such as what could be the
world’s first nicotine edibles for the smokeless tobacco industry,
or enhanced products for NSAID-derived pain management, as well as
in the rapidly growing cannabis market.”
Advanced Delivery Method
Lexaria is accelerating its research focus on nicotine following
its patent grant and is preparing formulations of edible forms of
nicotine using the DehydraTECH™ technology. These formulations are
currently completing quality control testing prior to in
vivo absorption and tolerability testing. A third-party
laboratory is expected to perform the first nicotine edible tests
in February 2018. Imagine an edible nicotine-infused product that:
masks unwanted tastes, eliminating the need for sugar-filled
edibles; reduces the time of onset with effects felt within 15-20
minutes instead of up to an hour or more; avoids first-pass liver
metabolism, which means fewer side effects; and increases
bio-absorption by five to 10 times which equates to an inhaled
delivery method - all while helping you quit smoking
cigarettes.
Spotlight on Innovation
The FDA’s recent proposal to reduce nicotine levels in
cigarettes to non-addictive levels bodes well for companies like
Lexaria whose patented technology clearly supports the effort.
Almost 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age
of 18 and nearly 2,500 youth smoke their first cigarette every day
in the U.S., and the FDA’s comprehensive plan for tobacco and
nicotine regulation will serve as a multiyear roadmap to better
protect children and significantly reduce tobacco-related disease
and death (http://nnw.fm/2SUkk). Lowering nicotine levels could
decrease the likelihood that future generations become addicted to
cigarettes and allow more currently addicted smokers to quit.
Market Implications
The company’s proprietary platform allows for the infusion of
nicotine molecules within a wide range of edible food ingredients
or typical capsule formats, effectively opening the door for the
creation of a new product category targeting the high-demand
smoking cessation market (http://nnw.fm/vmNg7). While this research is in its
early stages, the market implications of maximizing Lexaria’s
patented molecular delivery method in such areas as nicotine
delivery, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and vitamins –
all multibillion dollar industries – is significant. According to a
2016 report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global smoking
cessation and nicotine de-addiction market is expected to reach
over $21.8 billion by 2024. As Grand View reports, “The launch of…
improved and innovative nicotine replacement therapy products is to
serve as a high impact rendering driver for the growth of the
smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction market (http://nnw.fm/Ytnr1)”
Big Tobacco’s Take
The FDA’s mandate is even being touted by big tobacco companies
whose fortunes once solely rested on its combustible offerings.
Smoke-free options are rapidly becoming popular as the National
Institute on Drug Abuse reports they often are chosen by those
wishing to lower nicotine cravings in their quest to stop smoking
cigarettes (http://nnw.fm/bM5vN). The FDA’s directive to lower
nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive or less addictive levels is
driving much of the industry’s research and development drive. With
more tobacco companies acknowledging the hazards of smoking and
changing their approach to nicotine consumption, Lexaria could have
incredible potential as a solution provider with its advanced
delivery system.
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE: BTI), a
global tobacco and nicotine products company, sells its products in
more than 200 markets worldwide. The company’s push to develop
“Next Generation Products,” such as e-cigarettes and
tobacco-heating products comes with a reminder that although these
products are not entirely without risk, they are considered to be
significantly less than smoking combustible cigarettes (http://nnw.fm/ss8Nv).
Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), one of
the three largest tobacco companies in the world, trumpets its
intention to design a “smoke-free future” right on the front page
of the company website, asking readers “How long will PMI be in the
cigarette business?” (http://nnw.fm/7Mih6). The company states it is
developing and testing products that deliver nicotine without the
harmful smoke of cigarettes. In fact, Phillip Morris said its New
Year’s resolution is to give up cigarettes (http://nnw.fm/Q2Dc1) and took out full-page ads in
several newspapers in the United Kingdom that reiterated its
ambition.
Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) is another global
tobacco company based in the United States focused on addressing
these same issues of reducing the health effects of tobacco use.
“Reduced risk” tobacco products are reportedly part of Altria’s
future, with many industry analysts expecting this category to be a
major growth driver in 2018 (http://nnw.fm/vr3Ys). Regulatory hurdles along with
limitations on marketing campaigns, a growing anti-smoking push and
higher excise taxes are all dragging tobacco companies down.
Leading tobacco leaf supply company Universal
Corporation (NYSE: UVV) doesn’t make cigarettes or tobacco
products, but the Virginia-based company is still affected by the
public’s growing aversion to combustible cigarettes. Universal
states on its website that the company believes growth in world
consumption of cigarettes peaked several years ago and is
declining. While its clients remain the six largest tobacco
companies in the world, Universal is also investing in alternative
forms of revenue (http://nnw.fm/0VKe0). The company’s AmeriNic joint
venture seeks to produce liquid nicotine for the vapor products
industry, which may prove to be a lucrative change from the
conventional tobacco end market.
A Bright Future
Lexaria, which upgraded to the OTCQB Venture Market on January
4, 2018, expects this to provide an unqualified positive
opportunity for investors as the company continues to build its
disruptive technology and create innovative products for the
cannabis industry and nicotine-suppression markets.
“Lexaria has made notable progress over the past twelve months
in all aspects of its business, and will receive even more
recognition by upgrading to OTCQX," CEO Bunka stated in the press
release announcing the uplisting. "Lexaria expects to provide
greater visibility and liquidity for our investors on OTCQX as we
build our disruptive technology innovations through 2018 and
beyond."
For more information on Lexaria Bioscience, visit: Lexaria
Bioscience Corp. (CSE:LXX) (OTCQB: LXRP)
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