British entrepreneur, backed by big name British investors, takes on public health dilemma
June 2011
A British inventor, backed by Sir Terry Leahy, Sir Peter Davis and Jon Moulton amongst other eminent British businessmen, has created a unique device that has the potential to help tackle one of the country’s most persistent public health challenges by providing a real alternative to smoking.
Alex Hearn, a 28 year old Oxford University graduate, is the mastermind of the product – a clean medicinal nicotine inhalation device, unlike anything available in the market place today, which aims to provide a new choice to those smokers who are unwilling or unable to give up smoking.
The product – which is still under development, and will be subject to regulatory approval as a medicinal product, contains no tobacco, does not involve combustion or heat of any nature in its operation, is non-electronic and aims to mimic the intake of nicotine that is delivered when smoking a cigarette.
Alex Hearn, now Chief Product Officer at Kind Consumer Limited – an innovative consumer healthcare company behind this new product, said:
“There’s a common misconception that nicotine causes harm, but this isn’t the case. It’s the burning of the tobacco and the toxins in the smoke that cause the harm and our product contains neither tobacco, heat nor smoke – just clean medicinal nicotine.
“The thing that sets our invention apart from other nicotine products available today is not just the fact it mimics the psychological rituals and routines of smoking cigarettes but that it is designed to also match the physiological effects of nicotine in-take by smokers.
“If someone wants to give up smoking but finds it too difficult to quit because they still crave nicotine then using a product like this could be the break-through they need.”
Paul Triniman, CEO of Kind Consumer, stated “Alex’s product is not only one of huge ingenuity, but a breakthrough for the industry. We will be able to offer smokers a safer alternative to cigarettes, and help the thousands of people who want to give up smoking achieve their goal.”
And it’s not just Alex, and the highly experienced Kind Consumer healthcare team, that believes this product can really have a significant impact on public health.
Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco and a private investor in Kind Consumer, said:
“I have personally invested in this company because I believe it will make a difference, not only to the lives of smokers who have repeatedly tried to quit smoking without success, but to the public health of our nation.
“And it makes perfect business sense too. There’s currently a huge gap in the market crying out for a product like this that sits between cigarettes and the very medicalised nicotine replacement therapies.
“I was also impressed by the work and thought that has gone into developing this initial product and am really excited about the future prospects of Kind Consumer.”
Sir Peter Davis, ex Chief Executive of both the Prudential and Sainsburys and also a Kind Consumer investor, said:
“When I first heard about Kind Consumer and their plans for the technology, my gut feeling was this was something interesting that has the potential to make a real social impact. There are lots of smokers out there, I know because I used to be one of them, that either want to quit or cut down on the amount they smoke – but that’s more easily said than done. My hope, and the reason why I have personally got involved with Kind Consumer, is that this product will offer those smokers a real alternative.”
In addition to attracting a number of high profile personal investors from the business and scientific worlds, Kind Consumer have recently signed a global licensing agreement for their nicotine product with Nicoventures Limited, the new subsidiary of British American Tobacco, set up specifically to commercialise innovative nicotine products.
Commenting on the agreement Paul Triniman, CEO,said: “we had been searching for some time for a commercial partner that really appreciated the unique potential of what we have developed and who has the necessary capabilities, resources and commitment to get it in front of as many smokers as possible. We believe our agreement with Nicoventures gives us the best possible chance of succeeding in offering smokers a real alternative to cigarettes.”
Media Enquiries
Tulchan Communications (+44) (0) 20 7353 4200
Lucy Legh
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Notes to Editors
- Kind Consumer Limited: founded in 2006 by Alex Hearn, is based in London, UK and is a research and development company aimed at reducing significant global health problems that are prevalent across the world. The Company has developed a technology platform for optimal inhalation delivery.
- Harm Reduction: several governments, organisations and regulatory bodies around the world are starting to encourage the widespread availability of safer nicotine products and harm reduction policies. The UK has shown itself to be a global leader in pioneering tobacco harm reduction.