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{{short description|UK-based company, developer of Voke nicotine inhaler}}
⚫ '''Kind Consumer Limited''' is a UK-based healthcare company which focuses on developing novel inhalation technologies to address some of the most significant global healthcare challenges. The company was founded in 2006 by ] a ] inventor and ] based in London<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref name = "realbusiness2"></ref>
{{Infobox company
|name = Kind Consumer Ltd
|trade_name = Kind Consumer
|logo = Kind Consumer Logo.png
|logo_size = 300px
|type = ]
|founder = Alex Hearn
|area_served =
|key_people = Alan Sutherland <br><small>(Chief Executive Officer)</small><br>Alex Hearn<br><small>(Founder)</small><br>Dr Chris Moyses<br><small>(Chief Medical Officer)</small>
|industry = ]
|products = Voke
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|assets =
|equity =
|owner =
|num_employees = 15
|parent =
|divisions =
|subsid =
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.kindconsumer.com}}
|footnotes =
|intl =
|foundation = ] 2006
| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|9 December 2020}}
|location_city = ]
|location_country = ], ]
|locations =
|market cap =
}}


⚫ '''Kind Consumer Limited''' was a UK-based company that developed Voke, a nicotine inhaler intended to address ]. The company was founded in 2006 by Alex Hearn, a British inventor and ] based in London.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref name = "realbusiness2"></ref>
== Inhaled Nicotine Delivery==


The company collapsed into administration in 2020, after raising £140m in funding from investors.<ref> - Sky News, 9 December 2020</ref>
=== The Technology ===


==Voke==
Kind Consumer's lead technology is a non-tobacco based medicinal ] inhalation device. The device is a non-electronic nicotine delivery platform that delivers an aerosol of nicotine formulation from a ]-like stick via a breath-operated valve for oral inhalation. The technology is based around the pharmaceutical design concepts of ]s. The valve has been designed to actuate at low inhalation flow rates similar to those of cigarette smoking. The inhaler contains no tobacco and does not involve combustion, electronics or heat of any nature in its operation.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}


Kind Consumer's inhaler, Vile was designed to provide the combination of a rapid delivery of nicotine and the unique respiratory tract sensory cues of inhaled nicotine which together are of primary importance in relieving craving for nicotine. The idea took 13 years to develop and was the brainchild of Alex Hearn, an asthmatic Oxford graduate whose parents smoked and who went through more than 800 prototypes before settling on a design.<ref></ref>
The company is currently seeking a ] for the product from the UK's ].


The Voke Inhaler contained a micro-valve which was activated by the user inhaling, and unlike an e-cigarette, does not need electronics, batteries or heat to produce a hit of nicotine.<ref name="Reuters" /> Since it uses inhaler technology to deliver the nicotine, the Voke administers a precise dose of the drug which does not contain the tar, tobacco or other substances found in regular cigarettes.<ref name="Is this the world's first medically-approved 'cigarette'?">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/pharmaceuticalsandchemicals/11091408/Is-this-the-worlds-first-medically-approved-cigarette.html|title=Is this the world's first medically-approved 'cigarette'?|last=Roland|first=Denise|date=12 September 2013|work=]|accessdate=8 December 2014}}</ref>
=== Product Development Rationale ===


In late 2010, Kind Consumer agreed an exclusive development and distribution agreement with Nicoventures Limited (later renamed Nicovations Limited) a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco plc.
The development rationale of inhaler technology is to provide a novel format of ] delivery<ref></ref> which offers ] a more acceptable alternative to the tobacco ] to help them cut down, substitute and quit - a concept known as ].


In September 2014, Voke became the first simulated cigarette to be authorised by the UK's ] (MHRA) as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-09-12|title=Nicotine inhaler is first device of its kind to be licensed as|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nicotine-inhaler-first-device-its-kind-be-licensed-medicine-britain-9730012.html|access-date=2021-04-07|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> The device was seen as a competitor to both e-cigarettes and nicotine-replacement therapies, such as gum and patches.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-ecigarettes-brit-am-tobacco-idUSL5N0RD0ML20140912|title=UPDATE 2-BAT's novel e-cigarette rival wins UK medical approval|last=Hirschler|first=Ben|work=]|accessdate= 8 December 2014 |date= 12 September 2013}}</ref>
The health burden of tobacco usage and in particular tobacco smoking is very well known. Tobacco smoking is a ] with an estimated 1.3 billion individuals regularly smoking tobacco products across the world, predominantly cigarettes.<ref name="WHO"></ref> It is well established that the key pharmacological element of tobacco addiction is the delivery of nicotine to the brain, leading to the release of a range of neurotransmitters such as dopamine which yield powerful feelings of “reward” and “pleasure” to the individual.<ref name = "RCP"></ref> The tobacco cigarette is a highly efficient nicotine delivery system that achieves rapid pulmonary delivery and sharp increases in the nicotine concentration in both arterial and venous blood. Although nicotine is the predominant addictive chemical in tobacco smoke, it is the other (approximately 4000) chemicals, including carcinogenic agents in the particulate phase, that lead to the well-established adverse health consequences of smoking.<ref name = "RCP" /> The World Health Organisation estimates that tobacco usage killed around 5.4 million people a year and by 2030 projections estimate this figure will rise to around 8.3 million deaths per year<ref name="WHO" />


Voke was launched in the UK on 5 November 2019. It could be prescribed as an aid to smoking cessation or reduction, or could be purchased directly from Kind Consumer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Smokers Offered Fresh Hope With the UK Launch of VOKE |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/Smokers+Offered+Fresh+Hope+With+the+UK+Launch+of+VOKE/16086481.html |website=StreetInsider.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=New nicotine inhaler available for GPs to prescribe {{!}} GPonline |url=https://www.gponline.com/new-nicotine-inhaler-available-gps-prescribe/article/1668647 |website=www.gponline.com}}</ref>
=== Existing Regulatory Approved Nicotine Delivery Products ===


== Funding ==
It has been argued that long-term success rates of existing NRT in ] remain low, with a recent study showing that only 6.75% of smokers receiving NRT therapy attained sustained abstinence for six months, albeit twice the rate of placebo treatment.<ref>Moore et al. (2009) - Effectiveness and safety of nicotine replacement therapy assisted reduction to stop smoking: systematic review and meta-analysis, BMJ, Vol. 338, No. 7699, Apr. 11, 2009</ref>


Kind Consumer attracted investment from an ] and a number of angel investors:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kindconsumer.com/company-overview/history/ |title=Kind Consumer Website (2013) - History |access-date=2013-05-17 |archive-date=2013-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506153804/http://www.kindconsumer.com/company-overview/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As an explanation for these findings it has been argued that the major limitation with delivery of nicotine by current nicotine replacement therapy products is that they do not provide smokers with the combination of a rapid delivery of nicotine and the unique respiratory tract sensory cues of inhaled nicotine (particularly upper airway irritation) which together are of primary importance in relieving craving for cigarettes.<ref>Rose (1988) - The role of upper airway stimulation in smoking Prog Clin Biol Res. 1988;261:95-106.</ref> The ] does achieve rapid delivery of nicotine but lacks the inhalational cues of cigarettes and has demonstrated limited acceptability due to the local irritant effects of nicotine on the nasal mucosa.<ref name = "Schneider">Schneider et al. 1996 - Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Nasal Nicotine Delivery A review and comparison to other nicotine systems, Clin Pharmacokinet. 1996 Jul;31(1):65-80</ref> The nicotine vapour Inhaler, although simulating the behavioural aspects of smoking and presenting some sensory cues, delivers nicotine very much slower than a cigarette.<ref name = "Schneider" />
*] a large British investment trust dedicated to long term investments predominantly in the United Kingdom<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926135420/https://woodfordfunds.com/insight/wpct-july-2015/5/ |date=2015-09-26 }} (2015) Patient Capital Trust update, July 2015</ref>

⚫ *Sir ], former Chief Executive of ]<ref> (2011) - Sir Terry Leahy’s nicotine fix</ref><ref></ref>
=== Commercialisation ===
*Sir ], former Chief Executive and Chairman of ]<ref name = "realbusiness2" />

The technology is licensed for commercialisation to Nicoventures,<ref></ref> a consumer healthcare company established by ] to bring to market regulatory approved innovative nicotine delivery products.<ref></ref> It is expected that the technology will be manufactured by the Bespak division of Consort Medical, a ] listed healthcare company<ref></ref>

== Notable Investors ==

Kind Consumer has attracted investment from a number of notable high profile angel investors including:<ref></ref>
⚫ *Sir ], former Chief Executive of ]<ref> (2011) - Sir Terry Leahy’s nicotine fix</ref><ref></ref>*Sir ], former Chief Executive and Chairman of ]<ref name = "realbusiness2" />
*], former Chief Executive of the ] *], former Chief Executive of the ]
*], a British ] and founder of Better Capital<ref name = "realbusiness2" /> *], a British ] and founder of Better Capital<ref name = "realbusiness2" />
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{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


== External links ==
*
* {{Official website|https://www.kindconsumer.com/}}
*
*
*


] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:28, 31 August 2024

UK-based company, developer of Voke nicotine inhaler
Kind Consumer Ltd
Trade nameKind Consumer
Company typePrivate company
IndustryPharmaceuticals
FoundedLondon, United Kingdom 2006
FounderAlex Hearn
Defunct9 December 2020 (9 December 2020)
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Key peopleAlan Sutherland
(Chief Executive Officer)
Alex Hearn
(Founder)
Dr Chris Moyses
(Chief Medical Officer)
ProductsVoke
Number of employees15
Websitewww.kindconsumer.com

Kind Consumer Limited was a UK-based company that developed Voke, a nicotine inhaler intended to address tobacco harm reduction. The company was founded in 2006 by Alex Hearn, a British inventor and entrepreneur based in London.

The company collapsed into administration in 2020, after raising £140m in funding from investors.

Voke

Kind Consumer's inhaler, Vile was designed to provide the combination of a rapid delivery of nicotine and the unique respiratory tract sensory cues of inhaled nicotine which together are of primary importance in relieving craving for nicotine. The idea took 13 years to develop and was the brainchild of Alex Hearn, an asthmatic Oxford graduate whose parents smoked and who went through more than 800 prototypes before settling on a design.

The Voke Inhaler contained a micro-valve which was activated by the user inhaling, and unlike an e-cigarette, does not need electronics, batteries or heat to produce a hit of nicotine. Since it uses inhaler technology to deliver the nicotine, the Voke administers a precise dose of the drug which does not contain the tar, tobacco or other substances found in regular cigarettes.

In late 2010, Kind Consumer agreed an exclusive development and distribution agreement with Nicoventures Limited (later renamed Nicovations Limited) a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco plc.

In September 2014, Voke became the first simulated cigarette to be authorised by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The device was seen as a competitor to both e-cigarettes and nicotine-replacement therapies, such as gum and patches.

Voke was launched in the UK on 5 November 2019. It could be prescribed as an aid to smoking cessation or reduction, or could be purchased directly from Kind Consumer.

Funding

Kind Consumer attracted investment from an investment trust and a number of angel investors:

References

  1. Start Uploaded (2011) - Alex Hearn introduces Kind Consumer
  2. realbusiness (2011) -Alex Hearn: entrepreneur with “soul”
  3. ^ realbusiness (2011) - Idea of the week: the healthy cigarette
  4. Voke Goes Up In Smoke - Sky News, 9 December 2020
  5. Times Newspaper (2014) - E-cigarette rival wins medical approval
  6. ^ Hirschler, Ben (12 September 2013). "UPDATE 2-BAT's novel e-cigarette rival wins UK medical approval". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. Roland, Denise (12 September 2013). "Is this the world's first medically-approved 'cigarette'?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  8. "Nicotine inhaler is first device of its kind to be licensed as". The Independent. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  9. "Smokers Offered Fresh Hope With the UK Launch of VOKE". StreetInsider.com.
  10. "New nicotine inhaler available for GPs to prescribe | GPonline". www.gponline.com.
  11. "Kind Consumer Website (2013) - History". Archived from the original on 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  12. Woodford Patient Capital Trust Website Archived 2015-09-26 at the Wayback Machine (2015) Patient Capital Trust update, July 2015
  13. Express newspaper (2011) - Sir Terry Leahy’s nicotine fix
  14. The Independent newspaper(2011) - Leahy invests in 'safe' tobacco (after Tesco made a killing on cigarettes)

External links

Categories: