VAPE - FDA Walks Back Turning Points Vape Denial
In a big “oops we goofed,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took back its September 14 Marketing Denial Order for some of Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE: TPB) vape products. Turning Point said all of its proprietary vape products, including its Solace branded e-liquids, will continue to be marketed while they remain under review. They are currently under a pending Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (“PMTAs”) review.
Turning Point said that in its rescission letter the FDA stated, “Upon further review of the administrative record, FDA found relevant information that was not adequately assessed. Specifically, your applications did contain randomized controlled trials comparing tobacco-flavored ENDS to flavored ENDS as well as several cross-sectional surveys evaluating patterns of use, likelihood of use, and perceptions in current smokers, current ENDS users, former tobacco users, and never users, which require further review.” The letter further clarified that “at present, in light of the unusual circumstances, FDA has no intention of initiating an enforcement action against” the products.
“We are encouraged by the FDA’s decision to reconsider our product applications and look forward to engaging the agency as our PMTAs are reviewed,” said Larry Wexler, President and CEO, Turning Point Brands. “It is important that the PMTA process is transparent, purposeful, and evidence-based. Our organization dedicated significant time and resources in filing our applications in accordance with agency guidance. We remain hopeful that the depth and range of our studies and data will persuade the FDA that the continued marketing of our vapor products is appropriate for the protection of the public health and that the agency will ultimately preserve a diverse vapor market for the more than 30 million American adult smokers who may wish to transition from combustible cigarettes to lower risk alternatives.”
Turning Point had been selling vape products under the label Solace with flavors like Peach, Mango, and Marshmallow Crispy. These sugary flavors have been very popular with underage consumers and were a big selling point for the competitor Juul. Solace noted on its website that Federal law required e-liquid companies to submit a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to continue selling products in the United States. These applications require that e-liquid companies demonstrate that products are “appropriate for the protection of public health.”
Turning Point has reported spending $14 million in 2020 on the PMTA application according to the company’s annual filing. In 2019, the company spent $2.2 million on the PMTA. Turning Point also said that as a result of the rescission letter, it withdrew both the petition for relief and motion to stay that it had filed with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.