Imperial Brands Studies Published on Tobacco Products
New research suggests reduced biological activity in next-generation tobacco products compared to cigarette smoke.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Imperial Brands scientists have released two studies comparing the toxicological impact of combustible cigarettes against various next-generation products. The findings indicate that products with lower levels of combustion-related toxicants exhibit reduced biological activity in cellular models.
Why it matters
Understanding how modern tobacco and vape products compare to traditional cigarettes in terms of biological stress is essential for assessing their relative health impacts. These studies aim to clarify the relationship between toxicant exposure and cellular response mechanisms.
Researchers utilized animal-free New Approach Methodologies, specifically ToxTracker and ToxProfiler assays, to evaluate cellular responses. The study analyzed one reference cigarette against a heated tobacco product, a heated herbal product, and two distinct vape products.
The players
Imperial Brands
This is a multinational tobacco company that conducts internal research on the biological impact of its various product lines.
The details
The studies, published in Mutagenesis and the Journal of Applied Toxicology, demonstrate that cigarette smoke is genotoxic and produces the strongest biological responses. In contrast, heated tobacco and vape products showed minimal or no activation of cellular stress pathways.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: Studies published in Mutagenesis and Journal of Applied Toxicology.
The Big Picture
The study marks an expansion in the use of the ToxTracker assay system for comparing modern nicotine delivery systems. This research follows a pattern set by using standardized in vitro toxicology platforms to measure the biological impact of inhaled aerosols.
While these findings demonstrate reduced cellular stress in laboratory models, they do not establish safety or clinical outcomes for human users. The data provides a scientific basis for comparing how different aerosol-based products interact with respiratory and cardiovascular cells.
The takeaway
The researchers found that combustion is the primary driver of biological activity and genotoxicity in the tested materials. Moving away from combustible products appears to significantly lower the activation of measured oxidative stress pathways.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Life Sciences.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News-Medical.
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