Evaluating the Impact of Synthetic Cooling Agents in Combustible Cigarettes on Smoking Perceptions and Use

NCT ID: NCT06230159

Last Updated: 2025-10-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-28

Study Completion Date

2024-06-12

Brief Summary

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This clinical trial evaluates the impact of synthetic cooling agents in combustible cigarettes on smoking perceptions and use. Menthol, a natural chemical, is a cooling agent that increases nicotine dependence among smokers. Menthol cigarettes largely contribute to the huge burden that smoking puts on public health. Approximately 43% of adult smokers smoke menthol cigarettes. Regulatory agencies have begun a ban on menthol. In response to the ban, the tobacco industry has introduced synthetic cooling agents as a flavorless replacement to provide the same cooling effects as menthol. Information gained from this trial may help researchers determine how the addition of synthetic cooling agents changes the appeal, abuse liability potential, and respiratory toxicity profile of combustible cigarettes.

Detailed Description

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PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Assess the content of synthetic cooling agents in newly introduced cooling agent non-menthol, menthol, and traditional non-menthol cigarettes.

II. Assess the subjective effects and abuse liability of cooling agent non-menthol cigarettes.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Examine acute changes to pulmonary health associated with cooling agent cigarette use.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to use 1 of 3 cigarette conditions at 3 different study visits.

Participants participate in ad libitum smoking sessions with either a non-menthol control, menthol, or synthetic cooling agent cigarette condition once weekly (QW) over 3 weeks on study. Participants also participate in an ad libitum smoking session with either their usual brand cigarette or the study cigarette condition at the end of each study visit. Participants also undergo nasal swab collection over 5-10 minutes and spirometry and airwave oscillometry testing over 5-10 minutes pre- and post-smoking session at each study visit.

Conditions

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Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Using a cross-over double-blinded study design, we will study the abuse liability (including sensory characteristics and appeal) of newly introduced cooling agent non-menthol cigarettes.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
Participants and data collection staff will be blinded to the order/conditions

Study Groups

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Menthol cigarette

Participants participate in an ad libitum smoking session with a menthol cigarette for this condition. Participants also participate in an ad libitum smoking session with either their usual brand cigarette or the menthol study cigarette at the end of each study visit.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Menthol Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke a menthol cigarette

Usual Brand Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke usual brand cigarette

Spirometry

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pulmonary function test

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Survey questionnaires

Nasal Epithelial Lining Fluid

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Nasal strip inserted into the nare to collect nasal epithelial lining fluid.

Non-menthol cigarette

Participants participate in an ad libitum smoking session with a non-menthol control cigarette for this condition. Participants also participate in an ad libitum smoking session with either their usual brand cigarette or the non-menthol study cigarette at the end of each study visit.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-menthol Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke a non-menthol cigarette

Usual Brand Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke usual brand cigarette

Spirometry

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pulmonary function test

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Survey questionnaires

Nasal Epithelial Lining Fluid

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Nasal strip inserted into the nare to collect nasal epithelial lining fluid.

Cigarette with synthetic cooling agents

Participants participate in an ad libitum smoking session with a synthetic cooling agent cigarette for this condition. Participants also participate in an ad libitum smoking session with either their usual brand cigarette or the synthetic cooling agent study cigarette at the end of each study visit.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Synthetic Cooling Agent Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke a synthetic cooling agent cigarette

Usual Brand Cigarette Smoking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Smoke usual brand cigarette

Spirometry

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pulmonary function test

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Survey questionnaires

Nasal Epithelial Lining Fluid

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Nasal strip inserted into the nare to collect nasal epithelial lining fluid.

Interventions

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Non-menthol Cigarette Smoking

Smoke a non-menthol cigarette

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Menthol Cigarette Smoking

Smoke a menthol cigarette

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Synthetic Cooling Agent Cigarette Smoking

Smoke a synthetic cooling agent cigarette

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Usual Brand Cigarette Smoking

Smoke usual brand cigarette

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Spirometry

Pulmonary function test

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Questionnaire Administration

Survey questionnaires

Intervention Type OTHER

Nasal Epithelial Lining Fluid

Nasal strip inserted into the nare to collect nasal epithelial lining fluid.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 21 - 29 years
* Established cigarette user
* Willing to provide informed consent and abstain from using tobacco products 12 hours prior to the three lab sessions
* Read and speak English

Exclusion Criteria

* Recently coronavirus disease 2019 positive (COVID-19+) or a recent COVID-19 hospitalization
* Self-reported unstable or significant psychiatric conditions
* History of cardiac event or distress within the past 3 months
* Are currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
* Currently attempting to quit using combustible tobacco products
* Have suffered from any serious lung disease or infection in the past 30 days
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

29 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Alayna Tackett

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Alayna P Tackett, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Locations

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Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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NCI-2023-10761

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

OSU-23208

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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