Footnotes

• Contributors JJP came up with the idea of featuring this industry development in an Industry Watch for submission to Tobacco Control, wrote the initial draft and made multiple revisions. LH provided edits and feedback on multiple collaborative versions until the work was finalised.

• Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

• Competing interests JJP has provided consultation to pharmaceutical and technology companies that make medications and other treatments for quitting smoking and has served as an expert witness in lawsuits against the tobacco companies. LH has no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

• Patient consent for publication Not required.

• Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.