George Cassels-Smith
Flavor industry veteran George Cassels-Smith fills in Tobacco Asia about the future of synthetic nicotine for conventional and electronic tobacco products.
By Thomas Schmid
Representing the eighth generation of his family to supply flavors to the tobacco industry, George Cassels-Smith is the c.e.o. of eLiquiTech, Inc., a private label manufacturer for compounding e-juice and filling of closed tank systems, bottles, and cartomizers. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tobacco Technology, Inc. (TTI), the largest flavoring provider to the global tobacco industry in North America, which Cassels-Smith likewise has headed since 2003.
After graduating from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in business administration in 1992, his first formal job came as a leaf buyer for German cigar company Dannemann, for which he was based in Cruz das Salmas, Brazil. By the mid-1990s he had returned to the US, working as a sales rep, leaf buyer, broker, and processing manager for Hail & Cotton.
As the decade drew to a close, an opportunity to contribute to the metamorphosis of the family business arose and Cassels-Smith joined TTI as a flavorist trainee. After learning the ropes in lab and smoking room, he moved on to sales, where he became instrumental in opening up new markets and maintaining long term customer relationships.
Cassels-Smith is married to Jill and has two children, George and Duke. He can frequently be found fly fishing and hunting, of course having a favorite cigar in his hand.
Tobacco Asia (TA): What is your specific interest in synthetic nicotine?
George Cassels-Smith (GCS): Tobacco Technology has always closely watched the global tobacco industry for growth areas where our skill set could be of service. Over the last two decades our focus has been almost exclusively on supplying flavors to novel tobacco products, with cleaner nicotine deliveries.
TA: You have relatively recently joined London-based Zanoprima Lifesciences Limited as a director. How are Tobacco Technology and Zanoprima intertwined with regards to synthetic nicotine?
GCS: Tobacco Technology became associated with Zanoprima Lifesciences Limited almost seven years ago, and SyNic synthetic nicotine was the first fruit of our collaboration. From SyNic we have developed a unique and patented portfolio of synthetic nicotine products that cover the entire nicotine value chain as we currently know it. Tobacco Technology is so committed to Zanoprima that we will be the global distributor for SyNic and the manufacturer of record for synthetic nicotine bitartrate and synthetic nicotine polacrilex resin, as well as proprietary SyNic e-liquid formulae. Ensuring that synthetic nicotine is readily available is the right thing to do for our industry -- and now also is the right time to do it.
TA: The chemical structures of naturally derived nicotine and synthetic nicotine are exactly identical. But are there differences between the two substances?
GCS: You are correct. The molecules of both are exactly identical. The differences lie with the individual impurities. Nicotine derived from tobacco can contain potentially harmful impurities if it is not purified sufficiently. That can be very difficult and costly, because the impurities appear structurally very similar to the nicotine molecule itself. But synthetic nicotine is virtually free of any impurities to begin with.
TA: As its name implies, synthetic nicotine is solely produced in an industrial lab setting using chemicals such as ethanol, niacin, and sulphuric acid, among others. Can you briefly describe the process, please?
GCS: SyNic synthetic nicotine is produced in an FDA-registered facility using cGMP methods. It carries no heavy metals and contains no residual pesticides as tobacco-derived nicotine potentially does, which also uses harsh acids and chemical solvents in its process. SyNic, on the other hand, is produced very cleanly, utilizing a “green chemistry” method. Its manufacturing is environmentally friendly and any solvent used is recovered completely before being recycled for future use. The SyNic process makes the tobacco-derived nicotine process appear dirty by comparison.
TA: Do you think that some consumers might balk at using a product that contains synthetic nicotine once they learn about it? Is there a potential “scare factor”?
GCS: Consumers will feel comfortable with using SyNic synthetic nicotine. Using clean science, we can consistently achieve the highest purity level obtainable in the nicotine industry. Also, all possible impurities are controlled, so no potentially cancer-inducing TSNA’s or nitrosamines are present.
TA: Can synthetic nicotine be produced cheaper than its natural counterpart?
GCS: SyNic, because it uses a unique patented process, almost achieves price parity with tobacco-derived nicotine. But it will always trade at a slightly higher price than its natural counterpart. However, please keep in mind that it is greener and purer and that it improves the taste of practically any end product.
TA: The vast majority of vaping liquid manufacturers still use natural nicotine in their products. Do you see a trend that will see them shifting to synthetic nicotine?
GCS: I think the vaping world is preparing for multiple nicotine products. SyNic, with its known qualities, will have a place at the table alongside pedigreed natural tobacco-derived nicotine. But there are issues with nicotine sourced from scrap and dust, as traceability is impossible and controlling pesticide and heavy metal contamination is problematic. I foresee a future requiring the tracing of [natural] nicotine’s origin from the seed up, and also quantifying impurities using cGMP facilities.
TA: Unlike low-quality tobacco-derived nicotine, synthetic nicotine does not contain any bad-tasting nitrosamines. Could that be a factor why vaping liquid manufacturers may switch to synthetic nicotine, eventually abandoning natural nicotine altogether?
GCS: True, our product SyNic does not contain nitrosamines, which by the way also have been linked to cancer. And that guarantee is priceless. What is the value of non-carcinogenic nicotine base to any tobacco product manufacturer? What is a non-carcinogenic tobacco product portfolio worth to the tobacco consuming public? But high-purity natural nicotine will continue to have a large seat at the table nevertheless.
TA: Is there an application area for synthetic nicotine in heat-not-burn products?
GCS: Yes, SyNic could be used in any HNB product. During the rod-making process SyNic could augment the prevalent nicotine source; or even be the sole source. Zanoprima has also adapted their SyNic technology and patented an extremely unique and stable nicotine salt that does not use organic acids and retains pH stability.
TA: And how about conventional tobacco products?
GCS: Well, I cannot think of a single tobacco product that could not utilize SyNic in some fashion. SyNic has the potential for being associated with superior purity and shelf life stability in all tobacco products of the future.
TA: Does synthetic nicotine provide the same level of satisfaction for the end user as natural nicotine does?
GCS: Satisfaction from nicotine consumption is mostly associated with the perception of taste married to the physiological effects of the nicotine in the body. In that context, SyNic synthetic nicotine provides the very same level of satisfaction as tobacco-derived nicotine, yet with a more neutral taste because of its lack of impurities. Tobacco-derived nicotine by scientific definition only exists as the natural (S) enantiomeric isomer. SyNic is more than 99.8% (S) isomer. It, therefore, is just like natural nicotine… but unlike the racemic mixture that some markets use as “synthetic nicotine.” The physiological effects of nicotine are almost exclusively induced by the natural (S) isomer. The synthetic racemic mixture I mentioned is 50% (R) isomer and 50% (S) isomer, thus can at most achieve half the physiological effects of natural nicotine.
TA: Have you patented SyNic and your other nicotine products?
GCS: Yes, we have filed multiple global patents for our technologies and are also in the process of filing drug master files [DMFs] with FDA for synthetic nicotine, nicotine bitartrate and nicotine polacrilex resin.
TA: Just like its natural counterpart, synthetic nicotine should meet USP and EP grade requirements. Why is that so important?
GCS: All nicotine regardless of its origin or use should conform to EP standards, which will be the future worldwide standard. EP closely follows FDA standards [for nicotine], differing only by [also] including a list of the four most prevalent impurities. All consumers have a right to know what is in their products. Unfortunately, USP and EP certified nicotine only require 99.5% purity, leaving 0.5% of off-tasting or dangerous impurities. You must remember that [purified] nicotine is very neutral in taste and has no carcinogenic properties. It is the impurities that make it taste poorly and potentially carcinogenic.
TA: And how important are various other certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, HACCP, and GHP/GMP?
GCS: All certifications help convey confidence to the customer that they use a quality product that has been properly conceived, designed and manufactured. Zanoprima will be exclusively using facilities registered with FDA for compounding pharmaceutical products using current pharmaceutical cGMP’s. Unfortunately, only a few natural nicotine suppliers maintain a fully cGMP-compliant FDA-registered facility for their manufacturing process. SyNic’s pedigree will separate itself from the marginal suppliers.
TA: Are there fewer trading restrictions or regulations concerning synthetic nicotine when compared to its tobacco-derived, natural cousin?
GCS: The chemical structures of SyNic and natural nicotine are identical, thus both are subject to the same regulations [Cas # 54-11-5]. This will allow [products containing] SyNic synthetic nicotine to sell alongside - or as a replacement for - existing products using naturally-derived nicotine. But one awkward trading restriction of note is that in the US the marketing of all new tobacco products post August 8, 2016 has been frozen. Yet synthetic nicotine enjoys a loophole in the US market as long as the product is not derived in whole or in part from the tobacco plant and also makes no medical claims. SyNic will refrain from entering the highly contentious US vaping market until our customers can show they have an accepted PMTA application to FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. Our objective is to work with FDA, not around it.
TA: Hypothetically speaking, if synthetic nicotine would “phase out” natural nicotine, could that have negative ramifications for the already struggling tobacco growing sector?
GCS: I do not foresee any “phasing out” of natural nicotine in favor of synthetic nicotine. But I do foresee a huge change in the pedigree demanded for natural nicotine that addresses our industry’s need for track and traceability. I foresee high-quality natural nicotine selling alongside high-quality synthetic nicotine products. Some customers will always prefer to be “all natural” while others will seek out “high tech.” As usual, our job will be to provide the right combination of products so our portfolio is attractive to all likes and needs.
TA: Any concluding words?
GCS: A rising tide lifts all boats, and with SyNic’s patented technology, at current attractive pricing and superior purity, we should see a full moon tide. I’d like to tell your readers, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” The portfolio of potential [end] products that can utilize SyNic is infinite. Purity, stability and shelf life advantages will raise the bar on all tobacco products, and we are just scratching the surface. It is a great tool that emerges at the perfect time for all tobacco product designers.