Clinical Science

Altria’s Clinical Science team conducts studies in human volunteers (21+ and tobacco users) to assess pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, tobacco constituent exposure and changes in potential indicators of disease risk during use of tobacco products to support the product applications we submit to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As part of a comprehensive harm reduction strategy, Altria assesses human impact through clinical trials. This data not only helps us understand the reduced-risk potential of tobacco products, but it also helps us address FDA guidance for product applications or specific questions from FDA about our products.

 

 

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Studies

We conduct studies to understand the rate and overall uptake of nicotine (pharmacokinetics) from our tobacco products. Pharmacokinetic studies typically involve measuring nicotine blood levels over the course of a tobacco product use session. During these assessments, we also measure subjective responses about how the products are impacting tobacco cravings, the overall experience the participating adult smoker is having (pharmacodynamics). 

The combination of understanding the nicotine uptake and the overall experience is used to address abuse liability of the products, which is required by the FDA, and helps evaluate the potential for new products to replace cigarettes.