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Cigarette SmokingNCT07142668

Effects of Tax Proposals and Cigarette Availability on Tobacco Purchasing

A study testing Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available, Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available and Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available in people with Cigarette Smoking, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 2 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study will investigate the effects of normal-nicotine versus low-nicotine cigarette availability in the context of four tax proposals (Tobacco Parity, Nicotine-Content, Harm-Reduction, and Modified Risk Tobacco Product-based taxes) on tobacco product purchasing patterns in a virtual marketplace. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Cigarette Smoking
What is being tested?
Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available, Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available and Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
316 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
14 Aug 2025to 30 Sep 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • provide informed consent
  • provide a breath carbon monoxide sample ≥ 8 ppm,
  • be at least 21 years of age (the legal age to purchase tobacco),
  • smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily, and
  • use other tobacco products less than weekly.

Who cannot join

  • report uncontrolled physical or mental health conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, major depressive disorder, etc.),
  • use of smoking cessation medications (e.g., nicotine replacement, bupropion, varenicline) in the past 30 days,
  • report concrete, immediate plans to alter/quit using their usual tobacco products in the next 30 days,
  • be pregnant or lactating, or
  • have plans to move out of the area during the experiment.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Kirstin Gatchalian contact

540-526-2071

kmgatch@vtc.vt.edu

Madeleine G Mason, Ph.D. contact

540-526-2114

mgmason@vtc.vt.edu

United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Buffalo, New York, 14263

    Lisa Kaiser, MPH, 716-845-3364, Lisa.Kaiser@RoswellPark.org

    Christine E Sheffer, Ph.D.

    Recruiting
  • Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

    Roanoke, Virginia, 24016

    Kirstin Gatchalian, 540-526-2071, kmgatch@vtc.vt.edu

    Madeleine G Mason, Ph.D., 5405262114, mgmason@vtc.vt.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: The Impact of Availability of Conventional Cigarettes and LNCs in the Context of Innovative Tax Proposals

This study will investigate the effects of normal-nicotine versus low-nicotine cigarette availability in the context of four tax proposals (Tobacco Parity, Nicotine-Content, Harm-Reduction, and Modified Risk Tobacco Product-based taxes) on tobacco product purchasing patterns in a virtual marketplace.

Read the detailed description

In a within/between subjects design, the investigators will use an Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM) to systematically impose four innovative tobacco/nicotine tax proposals (Tobacco Parity, Nicotine-Content, Harm-Reduction, and Modified Risk Tobacco Product-related taxes) covering a broad range of tax magnitudes. Participants will complete two control trials and one tax proposal condition, with and without the conventional cigarettes available in the marketplace. Each condition (with and without conventional cigarettes) will include five price scenarios, with tax rates increasing across scenarios by a multiplicative factor. Tobacco products are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax, according to the goals of each proposal.

Being tested
Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available, Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available, Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available, Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available, Nicotine Content Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available
Keywords
Experimental Tobacco Marketplace
Medical subject headings
Cigarette Smoking

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes AvailableBehavioural

    In the Harm Reduction Tax Condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. All combustible products with high abuse liability are placed in the high-tax tier. All non-combustible products or combustible products with low abuse liability are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not AvailableBehavioural

    In the Harm Reduction Tax Condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. All combustible products with high abuse liability are placed in the high-tax tier. All non-combustible products or combustible products with low abuse liability are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are NOT available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes AvailableBehavioural

    In the Modified Risk Tobacco Products tax condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all non-MRTP tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier, MRTPs are placed in the medium-tax tier, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not AvailableBehavioural

    In the Modified Risk Tobacco Products tax condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all non-MRTP tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier, MRTPs are placed in the medium-tax tier, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are NOT available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Nicotine Content Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes AvailableBehavioural

    In the Nicotine-Content Tax Condition, products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, products with greater than 3 mg nicotine per single unit are placed in the high-tax tier, products with 0.6-3.0 mg/unit in the medium-tax tier, and those with 0.5 mg/unit or less in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Nicotine Content Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not AvailableBehavioural

    In the Nicotine-Content Tax Condition, products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, products with greater than 3 mg nicotine per single unit are placed in the high-tax tier, products with 0.6-3.0 mg/unit in the medium-tax tier, and those with 0.5 mg/unit or less in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are NOT available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Tobacco Parity Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes AvailableBehavioural

    In the Tobacco Parity Tax condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier while products that do not contain tobacco (e.g., herbal cigarettes and nicotine-free ENDS) are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

  • Tobacco Parity Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not AvailableBehavioural

    In the Tobacco Parity Tax condition, tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier while products that do not contain tobacco (e.g., herbal cigarettes and nicotine-free ENDS) are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier. The participant's preferred normal-nicotine content cigarettes are NOT available in the marketplace. Participants complete two trials with all products offered at market price, and five trials with prices for each product increasing proportionally to tax tier.

Study groups in NCT07142668
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Tobacco ParityExperimentalExclusive cigarette smokers will be recruited and will be exposed to two control trials and the Tobacco Parity Tax condition. Tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier while products that do not contain tobacco (e.g., herbal cigarettes and nicotine-free ENDS) are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier.
Receives: Behavioral: Tobacco Parity Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available; Behavioral: Tobacco Parity Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available
Nicotine ContentExperimentalExclusive cigarette smokers will be recruited and will be exposed to two control trials and the Nicotine-Content Tax Condition. Products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, products with greater than 3 mg nicotine per single unit are placed in the high-tax tier, products with 0.6-3.0 mg/unit in the medium-tax tier, and those with 0.5 mg/unit or less in the no-tax tier.
Receives: Behavioral: Nicotine Content Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available; Behavioral: Nicotine Content Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available
Harm ReductionExperimentalExclusive cigarette smokers will be recruited and will be exposed to two control trials and the Harm Reduction Tax Condition. Tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all combustible products with high abuse liability are placed in the high-tax tier. All non-combustible products or combustible products with low abuse liability are placed in the medium-tax tier. Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier.
Receives: Behavioral: Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available; Behavioral: Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available
Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTP)ExperimentalExclusive cigarette smokers will be recruited and will be exposed to two control trials and the Modified Risk Tobacco Products tax condition. Tobacco products in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace are placed into three tax tiers: high-, medium-, and no-tax. In this condition, all non-MRTP tobacco products are placed in the high-tax tier, MRTPs are placed in the medium-tax tier, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy products are placed in the no-tax tier.
Receives: Behavioral: Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available; Behavioral: Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percent of Budget Allocated to Products from each Tax Tier

    The investigators will measure the percent of each participant's study budget spent on products from each of the three tax tiers (high-, medium, and no-tax).

    Measured: Day 1

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Quantity of Products Purchased from each Tax Tier

    The investigators will measure the quantity of individual units of tobacco/nicotine products purchased from each tax tier (high-, medium, and no-tax).

    Measured: Day 1

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Aug 2025
  2. Study start14 Aug 2025
  3. Primary completion15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will complete two control trials and one Experimental Marketplace condition, representing one of the four tax proposals. Within each tax policy group, each participant will complete five purchase scenarios in which conventional cigarettes are available and five in which conventional cigarettes are not available. In each condition, taxes will be increased proportionally across five trials to examine how cigarette purchasing and product substitution are affected.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
316 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07142668
Sponsor's protocol ID
VT IRB 25-612
Other IDs
R01CA266966
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
7 Aug 2025
Last updated
19 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: The study team will share de-identified data upon request.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available, Harm Reduction Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Not Available and Modified Risk Tobacco Product Tax - Normal Nicotine Cigarettes Available in people with Cigarette Smoking, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Kirstin Gatchalian (540-526-2071, kmgatch@vtc.vt.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percent of Budget Allocated to Products from each Tax Tier (time frame: Day 1). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 May 2026.

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