Impact of Novel vs. Usual Brand Menthol Cigarettes on Abuse Liability
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Where
- Columbus, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 48 people, planned
- Started
- 18 Aug 2026
- Expected to end
- 30 Sept 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional, 3 groups
- Treatments tested
- Biospecimen Collection
- Questionnaire Administration
- Cigarette Purchase Task
- Cross-Price Elasticity Task
- Daily Diary Surveys
- Progressive Ratio Task
- Record updated
- 14 October 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 21 years and older
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Can take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 13 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Aged 21 years or older
- Currently smoke cigarettes daily (≥ 5 cigarettes/day) for at least the past 6 months, and their usual brand is menthol cigarettes
- Willing to provide informed consent
- Willing to abstain from all nicotine, tobacco, and smoked cannabis products for approximately 12 hours prior to each study visit
- Own and regularly use a functional smartphone compatible with study procedures (e.g., completing daily assessments)
- Willing to complete two weeks of daily assessments involving use of their usual brand menthol cigarettes and the study product
- Able to read, speak, and understand English
Who cannot take part
- Current diagnosis of any significant lung diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)
- History of a cardiac event or episode of cardiac distress (e.g., heart attack, hospitalization for chest pain) within the past 3 months
- Currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant during the study period, or currently breastfeeding
- Self-reported use of any non-cigarette nicotine or tobacco product (e.g., e-cigarettes, cigars, oral nicotine products) or cannabis on more than 10 days in the past 30 days
- Self-reported current participation in a smoking cessation program or intention to quit smoking in the next 3 months
- Self-reported difficulty with blood draws
Where in United States
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbus, United StatesContact: Vishva BhavsarTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
This randomized, double-blind, crossover human laboratory study compares the abuse liability of cigarettes containing menthol and non-menthol cigarette variants, using the participant's usual brand menthol cigarette as a within-subject reference. Participants complete standardized laboratory smoking sessions, behavioral economic tasks, and a naturalistic observational period. The study examines differences in nicotine delivery, smoking behavior, and subjective effects across cigarette types in laboratory and real-world contexts.
The 3 groups in the trial
- Study Cigarette ATreatment being tested
Participants smoke one Study Cigarette A during one Phase 2 laboratory session (10 puffs over 5 minutes), with puff topography and serial plasma nicotine sampling. Subjective effects, the Cigarette Purchase Task, and the Cross-Price Elasticity Task are completed during the session. Order of exposure to Study Cigarettes A, B, and C is randomized.
Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Questionnaire Administration, Cigarette Purchase Task, Cross-Price Elasticity Task, Daily Diary Surveys, and Progressive Ratio Task
- Study Cigarette BTreatment being tested
Participants smoke one Study Cigarette B during one Phase 2 laboratory session (10 puffs over 5 minutes), with puff topography and serial plasma nicotine sampling. Subjective effects, the Cigarette Purchase Task, and the Cross-Price Elasticity Task are completed during the session. Order of exposure to Study Cigarettes A, B, and C is randomized.
Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Questionnaire Administration, Cigarette Purchase Task, Cross-Price Elasticity Task, Daily Diary Surveys, and Progressive Ratio Task
- Study Cigarette CTreatment being tested
Participants smoke one Study Cigarette C during one Phase 2 laboratory session (10 puffs over 5 minutes), with puff topography and serial plasma nicotine sampling. Subjective effects, the Cigarette Purchase Task, and the Cross-Price Elasticity Task are completed during the session. Order of exposure to Study Cigarettes A, B, and C is randomized.
Treatment: Biospecimen Collection, Questionnaire Administration, Cigarette Purchase Task, Cross-Price Elasticity Task, Daily Diary Surveys, and Progressive Ratio Task
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Record updated
- 14 October 2026