Days after its subsidiary Nicovations cancelled supply agreements with Bespak, British American Tobacco says that it and Kind Consumer “have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement on the financial aspects” on “a new approach to commercialize the Voke nicotine inhaler” in which BAT will return the rights to the inhaler to Kind, “allowing Kind to embrace the full economics of the opportunity.”
The Voke nicotine inhaler was approved by the MHRA for smoking cessation in 2014.
BAT Managing Director, Next Generation Products, Kingsley Wheaton commented, “We will be prioritizing and focusing on the Vapour and Tobacco Heating consumer segments within our Next Generation Product portfolio with our Vype and glo brands. We do recognize the focus and single-mindedness Kind can bring will be an asset to the speedy commercialization of Voke.”
Kind Chief Executive Paul Triniman said, “We will be working hard to ensure that this new medical product indicated to aid smokers wishing to quit or reduce prior to quitting, to assist smokers who are unable or unwilling to smoke, and as a safer alternative to smoking for smokers and those around them, gets to consumers as fast as possible. We will be seeking a new global partner, or possibly several regional partners, to accelerate the distribution of the nicotine inhaler during 2017.”
Triniman added: “We believe the differentiated technology, effective nicotine delivery and discreteness of Voke offers an important niche in the multi-billion dollar, fast-growing, harm-reduction market. We are excited about bringing this unique product to the market as soon as possible.”
Read the BAT press release.
