The Nicovape® Q and Q SD cartridge systems are available in multiple nicotine strengths:
The Nicovape® Q – nicotine lactate 59 mg/mL.
- For smoking cessation in patients with a strong history of failed cessation; or
- For relapse prevention in users that have achieved nicotine abstinence.
The Nicovape® Q SD* – nicotine lactate 35 mg/mL | 20 mg/mL.
- Two lower strengths provide clinicians flexibility in using lower dosages for downwards titration towards abstinence; or
- For initiation treatment in patients evaluated by their clinician as requiring a reduced nicotine product.
* The Nicovape® Q SD will be available in pharmacies from end-November 2021.
Nicovape® Q and Nicovape® Q SD have been developed solely for use by clinicians as part of a smoking cessation framework.
In particular, Liber has ensured the following in the development of the Nicovape® Q and Q SD systems:
- Application of drug development principles used for medicines;
- Use of pharmaceutical grade (Eur.Ph./USP) materials for the primary ingredients (nicotine, lactic acid, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine);
- Manufacturing of e-liquids in a UK-licenced pharmaceutical GMP facility;
- Characterisation of all flavour compounds, which have been subject to comprehensive toxicological risk and hazard assessments for inhalation; and
- Optimisation of e-liquids for use with the Nicovape® Q device.
When used as directed, Nicovape® Q and Nicovape® Q SD minimise exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents compared to cigarettes (based upon lifetime exposures).
Recommended dosage: maximum one cartridge per day, ad libitum | PRN, for craving and withdrawal symptom relief.
The Nicovape® Q and Q SD systems consist of two components:
The device, which contains:
- A rechargeable battery, which is recharged quickly via a USB C interface;
- PCBA microelectronics that regulate both the power output and the battery charging;
- Microprocessor routines that control the temperature at which the coil, which is contained in the cartridge, operates to prevent the overheating of the e-liquid;
- An LED located at the end of the device, which gives usable information about charge and cartridge status; and
- A sensor that detects the user’s puffing and activates the system.
The cartridge, which contains:
- A closed, single-use reservoir that contains the e-liquid;
- A medical grade cotton wick to draw the liquid to the coil in the atomising unit;
- The atomizing unit, which consists of a stainless steel wound coil; and
- A sealed base, which prevents leakage | direct exposure to the liquid.
To use the system, the patient simply inserts a Nicovape® Q cartridge into a charged Nicovape® Q device and puffs on it to activate. When a cartridge is finished, the microelectronics immediately detect the absence of the liquid and cuts power, at which point the cartridge is discarded and replaced with a new one.