7 December 2007 . EndSmoking NZ e-News 2:11 Back copies of e-News: www.endsmoking.org.nz/newsitems2007.htm

media release

the Ruyan e-cigarette - a healthier choice for smokers

This electronic device enables smokers to inhale nicotine without the cigarette smoke and tar, according to cigarette researcher Dr Murray Laugesen. It mimics the cigarette closely and appears to deliver nicotine rapidly to the lungs.* It could be on sale here by mid-2008, subject to approval by New Zealand authorities.

*Lung delivery not confirmed by later research.

The Ruyan e-cigarette is currently selling on the internet for 200 US dollars. Nicotine refills are required every few days, but overall it is likely to be much cheaper and safer than smoking. Some 300,000 units sold in China in 2006.

Some will quit smoking entirely, using Ruyan as a short term aid. Others will become long-term e-cigarette users. Some smokers will use both before deciding, while others will remain committed smokers. Government media campaigns and tax policies will still be needed to persuade smokers to do something about their smoking, says Dr Laugesen, and this device will assist them.

Dr Laugesen's company, Health New Zealand Ltd, acting for the Beijing manufacturer of the flameless electronic cigarette, has requested ESR to report on its safety, and requested Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland to test its efficacy. Subject to satisfactory results in the new year, Ruyan will then apply to Medsafe, to obtain permission to sell the e-cigarette from about mid-2008. The e-cigarette could then be advertised direct to the public as is the case with other NRT medicines.

Ruyan prefers to sell the e-cigarette as a cigarette substitute, alongside cigarettes. No such provision is currently available under the New Zealand Smokefree Environments Act, and so it can only be sold under the Medicines Act. For more detail, see www.smokeless.org.nz/ecigarette.htm

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Champix - to be subsidised by Pharmac- corrected

Pharmac is consulting currently on whether Champix (Varenicline) should be subsidised on a Special Authority basis for two years for smoking cessation starting from June 2008. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/pdf/051207a.pdf The consultation closes 14 January.

Contact Stephen Woodruffe" <stephen.woodruffe@pharmac.govt.nz>

Champix will cost Pharmac $67.74 for 28 tablets - at one per day, Champix will certainly be cheaper than RYO smoking ($4 per day); it will only cost smokers a few dollars per prescription.

The PTAC Committee that advises Pharmac discusses this drug in detail and recommended in May 2007 that

"Any decision on the funding or determining of the cost effectiveness of varenicline be deferred pending the outcome of head-to-head trials with NRT, and until longer-term data with regards to treatment efficacy and safety is available." http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/pdf/200807.pdf

Cigarette price rise to reinforce New Year resolutions

Updated 27 December 2007

The tax on cigarettes is adjusted each December 1st, but this year the inflation-adjustment is delayed until January 1st 2008.

Customs excise rate rose from 36.145 cents per gram to 36.827 cents per gram and for factory made cigarettes, from 28.916 cents per cigarette to 29.462 cents per cigarette. This could translate to a 1.9% rise in price, equal to a 20 cents rise in the price of 20 cigarettes. http://www.customs.govt.nz/manufacturers/Excise+Duty.htm

Dr Murray Laugesen QSO chair SmokeLess New Zealand Ph (09) 232 0332 Cell (0274) 884 375 Skype: murraylaugesen
chair@endsmoking.org.nz www.endsmoking.org.nz 36 Winchester St. Lyttelton 8082 New Zealand.

Dr Murray Laugesen QSO chair; Prof Ross McCormick, Sir John Scott KBE, Trish Fraser MPH, Dr Marewa Glover, Trustees

Making it easier to quit smoking for good © 2009 End Smoking NZ