It definitely seems the move to the buccal absorption format is picking up steam. The results from the Nicotine test results last Oct and now a new patent for buccal absorption (so far in Australia only but US and EU coming soon) are huge signs this is the direction our nicotine tech is going.
"As reported on October 5, 2021, Lexaria demonstrated in animal study NIC-A21-1 that nicotine oral pouches using DehydraTECH technology were 10x to 20x faster in reaching peak delivery of nicotine to bloodstream than controls. Findings using a DehydraTECH nicotine benzoate formulation relative to a concentration-matched control from that study are shown in the figure above.
The oral nicotine pouch category is of intense interest to Lexaria and is one of the fastest growing segments of the nicotine industry due in part to its reduced risk health outcomes as noted by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). This delivery method, in the white pouch format specifically, which avoids harmful lung outcomes experienced by smokers or vapers, involves absorption primarily through the buccal tissues of the mouth, of purified nicotine that has been separated from most other harmful compounds in the tobacco leaf. The global market for the oral nicotine pouch category was US$2.33 billion in 2020 and is growing at a rapid CAGR of 30.7% and is expected to reach $21.84 billion in 2027.
As reported on March 8, 2022, Lexaria recently received its first ever patent granted to use DehydraTECH to more efficiently deliver nicotine through buccal tissue absorption. Similar patent filings have been made in the USA and in the EU and Lexaria believes those potential patent awards could support significant competitive advantages in the nicotine white pouch category, as well as other oral nicotine product formats.
