Changes in Biomarker of Exposure in Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes Switching From Cigarettes to Heated Tobacco Products

A Multi-site, Open-Label, Parallel-Group Study To Evaluate Changes In Tobacco-Related Biomarkers of Exposure and Biomarkers of Potential Harm With Use of Heated Tobacco Products Compared to Combustible Cigarettes in Adult Smokers

The purpose of the study is to evaluate changes in biomarkers of exposure (BoE) to harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in adult smokers who completely switch to Ploom heated tobacco products (HTPs) compared to those who continue to smoke usual brand combustible cigarettes (UBCC).

This is a multi-site, open-label, two-group (menthol and non-menthol), six-arm (HTP, Continue Smoking, and Smoking Abstinence arms within each group) randomized, clinical study to evaluate changes in BoEs in adult smokers who remain smoking, switch to the Ploom HTP, or abstain from smoking, for 60 days (5 days in clinic followed by a 55-day ambulatory phase). Target enrollment is 300 male and female adult smokers between the ages of 22 and 65 in overall good health.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Voluntary consent to participate in this study documented on the signed ICF.

2. Score 5 or higher (moderate dependence or higher) on the FTCD.

3. Healthy adult males and females ≥ 22 and ≤ 65 years of age, inclusive, at Screening.

4. Smoking history (self-reported at screening) of an average of at least 10 but no more than 30 factory-manufactured combustible cigarettes (either menthol or non-menthol) daily for at least 12 months prior to screening. Brief periods (ie, up to 7 consecutive days) of non-smoking during the 3 months prior to screening (eg, due to illness or participation in a study where smoking was prohibited) will be permitted.

5. Screening and first check-in blood pressure ≤ 150/90 mmHg measured after being seated for at least 10 minutes. Two rechecks may be performed at the Principal Investigator's discretion.

6. Positive urine cotinine (≥ 500 ng/mL) at screening.

7. Exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) ≥ 10 ppm at screening.

8. Post-bronchodilator forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) : forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio > 0.7 and FEV1 > 80% of predicted at screening.

9. Negative pregnancy test at Screening and first check-in (Day -2) for all female subjects.

10. Female subjects who are heterosexually active and of childbearing potential (eg, neither surgically sterile at least 6 months prior to first check-in nor postmenopausal with amenorrhea for at least 12 months prior to first check-in with follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] levels consistent with postmenopausal status) must have been using one of the following forms of contraception for the time period indicated and agree to continue using it through completion of the study:

    • hormonal (eg, oral, vaginal ring, transdermal patch, implant, injection) consistently for at least 3 months prior to first check-in, when used in combination with male condoms with spermicide (use of NuvaRing® is at the Principal Investigator's discretion)
    • double barrier (eg, condom with spermicide or diaphragm with spermicide) consistently for at least 2 weeks prior to first check-in
    • intrauterine device or system (utilize Principal Investigator discretion regarding use of hormonal or nonhormonal devices) for at least 3 months prior to first check-in
    • exclusive partner who is clinically sterile (ie, documented infertility or surgical sterilization; see below for additional information on sterility) or has been vasectomized for at least 6 months (inclusive) prior to first check-in Note: Sexual abstinence, defined as refraining from intercourse, is allowed when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. Female subjects of childbearing potential who are not currently engaging in heterosexual intercourse must agree to use one of the above methods of birth control through completion of study, in the event that they have heterosexual intercourse during the course of the study.

11. Female subjects who are of nonchildbearing potential must have undergone one of the following sterilization procedures at least 6 months prior to first check-in:

    • Hysteroscopic sterilization (including Essure® or similar nonsurgical sterilization procedures);
    • bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral salpingectomy;
    • hysterectomy;
    • bilateral oophorectomy Or be postmenopausal with amenorrhea for at least 12 months prior to first check-in and have FSH levels consistent with postmenopausal status.

12. Willing to comply with the requirements of the study.

13. Willing to use Ploom HTP after the Product Trial at first check-in.

14. Willing and able to abstain from cigarettes from Day 1 through the end of the study (EOS) on Day 60 (±3 days) if they are randomized to a Smoking Abstinence arm.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of any type of tobacco- or nicotine-containing products other than manufactured cigarettes (eg, e-vapor products, roll-your-own cigarettes, bidis, snuff, nicotine inhaler, pipe, cigar, chewing tobacco, nicotine patch, nicotine spray, nicotine lozenge, or nicotine gum) in the 7 days prior to first check-in.
2. Self-reported puffers (ie, adult smokers who draw smoke from the cigarette into the mouth and throat but do not inhale).
3. Planning to quit smoking in the next three months (at screening).
4. History or presence of clinically significant gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, endocrine, oncologic, urologic, existing respiratory diseases, immunologic, psychiatric, lymphatic, or cardiovascular disease, or any other condition that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the subject or impact the validity of the study results.
5. Clinically significant abnormal findings on the vital signs, physical examination, medical history, ECG, or clinical laboratory results, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator.
6. Positive test for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, or hepatitis C virus at screening.
7. History or presence of any type of malignant tumors.
8. Current evidence or any history of congestive heart failure.
9. Diabetes mellitus (fasting glucose ≥126 mg/L [7 mmol/L]) that is not controlled by diet/exercise alone, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator.
10. An acute illness (eg, upper respiratory infection, viral infection) requiring treatment with prescribed medicines within 2 weeks prior to first check-in.
11. Any planned surgery from the time of screening through EOS.
12. History of drug or alcohol abuse within 24 months prior to first check-in.
13. Fever (ie, body temperature >100.5°F) at screening or first check-in. One re-check may be performed at the Principal Investigator's discretion.
14. Body mass index greater than 40.0 kg/m2 or less than 18.0 kg/m2 at screening.
15. Systolic blood pressure >150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg at screening or first check-in, measured after being seated for at least 10 minutes. Two re-checks may be performed at the Principal Investigator's discretion.
16. Estimated creatinine clearance (by Cockcroft-Gault equation) < 80 mL/minute at screening.
17. Serum alanine aminotransferase ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal and/or aspartate aminotransferase ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal at screening.
18. Positive screen for alcohol (urine/breath) or any of the following drugs of abuse (urine/saliva), regardless of the reason of use: amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, cannabinoids, or cocaine at screening or first check-in.
19. Female subjects who are pregnant (positive serum pregnancy test at screening or urine/serum pregnancy test at first check-in), lactating, or intend to become pregnant from screening through EOS.
20. Use of prescription or over-the-counter bronchodilator medication (eg, inhaled or oral ß-agonists) for treatment of any illnesses and within 12 months prior to first check-in and throughout the study.
21. Use of medications or foods known or are suspected to interact with cytochrome P450 2A6 (including, but not limited to, amiodarone, amlodipine, amobarbital, clofibrate, clotrimazole, desipramine, disulfiram, entacapone, fenofibrate, isoniazid, grapefruit, ketoconazole, letrozole, methimazole, methoxsalen, metyrapone, miconazole, modafinil, orphenadrine, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, pilocarpine, primidone, propoxyphene, quinidine, rifampicin, rifampin, secobarbital, selegiline, sulconazole, tioconazole, tranylcypromine) within 14 days or 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is longer, prior to first check-in or during the study.
22. Use of antibiotic treatment within 2 weeks prior to first check-in.
23. Plasma donation within 7 days prior to first check-in.
24. Donation of blood or blood products (with the exception of plasma as noted above), had significant blood loss, or received whole blood or a blood product transfusion within 56 days prior to first check-in.
25. Participation in a previous clinical study for an investigational drug, device, biologic, or a tobacco product within 30 days prior to first check-in.
26. Subject or a first-degree relative (ie, parent, sibling, child, spouse/partner) is a current or former employee of the tobacco industry or a named party or class representative in litigation with any tobacco company.
27. Subject or a first-degree relative (ie, parent, sibling, child, spouse/partner) is a current employee of the study site.
28. Have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or have a history of suicide attempt.
29. Have pre-bronchodilator to post-bronchodilator FEV1 increases of greater than or equal to 12% or grade "C" or worse per ATS/ERS 2019 standards.