RELX opens lab to enhance global e-cigarette research

RELX Technology, Asia's leading independent e-cigarette brand, has started operations at its newly-established e-cigarette bioscience laboratory to conduct systematic research on the effects of e-cigarettes through in vivo and in vitro tests, as well as pre-clinical safety assessments.

The bioscience laboratory, located in Shenzhen's International Bioindustry Valley, is currently conducting research on the impact of RELX products on animal cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems, in order to better carry out a comprehensive impact evaluation of vapor products.

"Science is the foundation of trust. As the industry leader, we have the responsibility to expand the borders of e-cigarette science and explore the unknown," said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RELX.

RELX also has announced its plan to establish a "1+4" scientific research approach, anchored by platform development, followed by toxicological assessment, clinical assessment, perception behavior study and long-term assessment.

According to Public Health England, e-cigarettes are 95 percent less harmful to health than smoking and have the potential to help smokers quit smoking. Many consumers have recognized e-cigarettes as a better alternative to traditional combustible cigarettes.

There are still many areas that require further long-term research, such as the actual harm reduction elements of e-cigarettes, the maximization of their harm reduction and other potential effects of vaping.

"E-cigarettes are sometimes viewed with suspicion because we have incomplete knowledge," said Wen Yilong, RELX co-founder and head of science, research and development and supply chains at the company. "The RELX bioscience lab's mission is to explore the unknown. We want to collect evidence through a scientific approach and strive to prove the potential for e-cigarettes to be less harmful, and in doing so, provide users the option to choose an alternative."

To ensure the reliability and quality of RELX products, RELX established a chemical and physical laboratory in 2018. The laboratory is certified by the internationally recognized China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.

"The toxicological and pharmacological studies focus on the effects of RELX's products," said Jiang Xingtao, head of RELX Lab. "For example, does it affect DNA or chromosomes, and what are the ingredients' long-term impact on body organs and tissues? There is still a lot of research to be done."

Jiang also claimed five preliminary findings from RELX's research so far. According to the data, the levels of harmful substances such as benzene and four tobacco-specific N-nitrosoamines emitted by RELX products are lower than those found in combustible cigarette smoke by over 99.1 percent and 99.8 percent, respectively.

RELX is currently conducting research projects on different topics with six universities, including the Sun Yat-sen University and Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, an affiliation to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, two hospitals and nine scientific research institutions.