Nicoventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco, has announced that its development partner Kind Consumer has been granted an initial medicines licence for Voke, a cigarette-shaped nicotine inhalation device. The device, which is not an electronic cigarette and not yet available, is designed for smokers who want to reduce, replace or stop smoking and is activated simply by inhaling.

The company says this is a major step forward in its commitment to offering smokers a choice of satisfying safer, alternative products. Kind Consumer is pursuing a variation to the licence prior to its transfer to Nicoventures.