Abuse liability assessment of the JUUL system in two nicotine concentrations compared to combustible cigarette, nicotine gum and comparator electronic nicotine delivery system

•Abuse liability of the JUUL System (JS) in 5.0 % and 3.0 % nicotine was assessed.•Comparators included combustible cigarette, 4 mg nicotine gum and VUSE Alto (5.0 %).•Abuse liability of both JS is lower than cigarettes and higher than nicotine gum.•Abuse liability of JS 5.0 % is somewhat higher than JS 3.0 %.•Abuse liability of JS 5.0 % and 3.0 % is somewhat lower than VUSE Alto 5.0 %. To assess the abuse liability of the JUUL System (JS) in 5.0 % (59 mg/mL) and 3.0 % (35 mg/mL) nicotine concentrations. Adult smokers (N = 146; 45.9 % female; mean age = 41.29 years) were randomized to one of four study flavor arms and then to a within-subjects cross-over sequence for five test product categories: (1) JS 5.0 % nicotine concentration; (2) JS 3.0 % nicotine; (3) usual brand (UB) cigarette; (4) 4 mg mint nicotine gum; (5) comparator ENDS (VUSE Alto 5.0 % nicotine). Products were tested by ad libitum use (5 min for ENDS and cigarette; 30 min for gum); nicotine pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and subjective effects were assessed following use. Maximum plasma nicotine concentration (Cmax-BL), rate of plasma nicotine rise and total nicotine exposure (AUC0–60-BL) of UB cigarette were significantly greater than all other test products. The comparator ENDS was significantly greater than 5.0 % and 3.0 % JS and nicotine gum on Cmax-BL, rate of plasma nicotine rise, and AUC0–60-BL; Cmax-BL of JS 5.0 % was significantly greater than JS 3.0 % and nicotine gum. Product liking and satisfying effects were significantly highest for the UB cigarette; JS products and comparator ENDS did not significantly differ and were rated higher than nicotine gum on most subjective measures. These results suggest that the abuse liability of both 5.0 % and 3.0 % JS is: (1) substantially lower than UB cigarette; (2) somewhat lower than comparator ENDS; and (3) higher than nicotine gum. Additionally, the abuse liability of JS 5.0 % is somewhat higher than JS 3.0 %.