TIM Alerts

CIGARS

Backwoods has recently added a new flavor to their website. The new flavor, Red Velvet, is described as being for “the people who appreciate richness without heaviness”. The dessert-themed cigar is limited edition and comes in a 5-cigar pack.

ENDS

In their Interim Results 2026 presentation, British American Tobacco (parent company of RJ Reynolds Vapor) stated that four new Vuse Pro flavors will be released in Quarter 3 of this year. While Vuse Pro devices are currently not available in the U.S., RJ Reynolds Vapor Company submitted PMTAs for an age-gated Vuse Pro device and compatible pods in June 2024. The new Vuse Pro flavors are advertised as “coming soon” on Vuse’s website and in a display at a convenience store in the Kansas City area.

CIGARS

Dutch announced in a business-to-business magazine advertisement (NACS magazine) that the company will change the packaging for their cigarillo products. The new packaging will launch in January 2027.

ENDS

Geek Bar posted a video on Instagram that includes customer testimonials from Rolling Loud 2026, a music festival that took place in Florida in May. The festival attendees share their opinions about the Geek Bar Mate 60k, a pod-based device with a magnetic battery attachment. They cite the flavors, sweetness, and cost-effectiveness of only buying the battery once as attractive product features. Geek Bar does not currently have any product authorizations from FDA. Geek Bar’s website claims that they “have submitted PMTAs to the FDA for our products, including no flavored products aside from tobacco and menthol pods.”

CIGARETTES

Philip Morris USA (parent company: Altria) recently launched a new line of Marlboro cigarettes, Marlboro Cowboy Cut, which is available in three varieties: Red, Gold, and Menthol. In their 2^nd Quarter and First Half Results webcast, Altria stated that Marlboro Cowboy Cut is intended to reach “value-sensitive Marlboro smokers” and has generated strong interest among premium cigarette smokers. An ad for Marlboro Cowboy Cut was spotted in a chain convenience store in New Jersey.

MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS

We recently identified the nicotine pouch brand ZSY. The brand has an account on Instagram that includes unique marketing that targets gamers, with hashtags like #Gamers, #eSports, and #GamingRoutine. The ad states that the pouches are a convenient way to “lock in.” ZSY does not have any PMTAs, and we were unable to identify any information about whether they have PMTAs under review.

CIGARS 

White Owl recently announced a new flavor on their website. The new flavor, Arctic Grape, is a limited-edition cigar.

ENDS 

Vuse announced in an email that the company changed the packaging for their Original Series pods. The new packaging features a photo of the pod, whereas the prior packaging did not. Vuse Golden Tobacco and Classic Tobacco pods received PMTAs in 2022. Vuse menthol pods received a marketing denial order (MDO) from FDA in 2023. Shortly after, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. (RJRV) an emergency administrative stay of enforcement, which put the MDO on hold. Later in 2024, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. a permanent stay of enforcement on the FDA's MDO on Vuse menthol pods.

MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS

According to the brand’s Instagram, Rogue MAX is now available in Blue Raspberry flavor in select stores only, which includes online retailers like Nicokick and Northerner. There are currently no PMTAs for Rogue or Rogue MAX. Rogue’s website states that “all filings required to market and sell Rogue have been or will be made with the FDA.”

MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS

FRE nicotine pouches announced via email that the brand now offers a rewards program through their website. The program offers discount coupons and prizes in exchange for points earned from purchases, reviews, and referrals. As a reminder, FRE appears to have been selected for FDA’s pilot program to streamline review of PMTAs for nicotine pouches. Although the pilot program was announced in September 2025, there are no PMTAs for FRE yet.