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Pax Labs

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PAX Labs
Company typePrivate
IndustryElectronic cigarette
Founded2007
FounderJames Monsees
Adam Bowen
Headquarters660 Alabama Street, San Francisco, California, 94110[1]
Area served
United States
Canada
Israel
ProductsPAX vaporizers
Websitepaxvapor.com

PAX Labs (formerly Ploom[2]) is an American electronic cigarette company founded in 2007 that markets the PAX vaporizers.[3] The company developed the JUUL (pronounced jewel[4]) e-cigarette; JUUL was spun out as a separate company in 2017.[5]

History

The company was founded by James Monsees and Adam Bowen in 2007 under the name Ploom.[2] As of 2015 it has distribution in the United States and Canada and has received $46.7 million in "series C" funding from various sources.[6][7] In August 2016, Tyler Goldman became the CEO of Pax.[5] Monsees left Pax in July 2017.[5] Bowen left Pax in June 2017.[5] Goldman left Pax in 2017.[5]

The company has been involved with Japan Tobacco International.[2] It markets the PAX vaporizers,[3] starting with the Pax by Ploom. As Pax Labs, Inc., the company then introduced the Pax 2, including the following changes: no moving parts to maintain, smaller and lighter, larger oven, and longer battery life. Pax 2 can be used with loose-leaf tobacco or cannabis.[8] In November 2016, the Pax 3 was released, featuring compatibility with both extracts and plant matter, new tools and accessories, and a complementary smart phone app. The same month, Pax also introduced an extract-based vaporizer called the Era, which operates by heating a concentrated cannabis liquid held in very small containers.[9]

JUUL

"JUUL" redirects here. For other uses, see Juul.
JUUL vaporizer
JUUL vaporizer

On June 1, 2015, the company introduced JUUL, a type of e-cigarette that utilizes nicotine salts that exist in leaf-based tobacco, for its key ingredient.[10] They were given a US patent for their nicotine salt preparation in 2015.[11] The nicotine salts are said to create an experience more like smoking than other e-cigarettes on the market.[12] The e-cigarette is shaped like a USB flash drive[13] and recharges using a magnetic USB deck.[14] Each cartridge (called a JUULpod) contains about the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes[13] and delivers approximately 200 hits.[14] JUUL attempts to deliver a nicotine peak in five minutes, similar to a traditional cigarette.[15] Mango is among the five most popular flavors.[16] A JUUL starter kit sells for about $49.99.[17]

Joel Johnson of co.design describe the nicotine intake as "eye-widening" and its aesthetics as "demure".[18] Upon initial release Ben Radding of Men's Fitness called JUUL the "iPhone of E-cigs", but said it required getting used to.[15] Pharmacologist James Pauly, a specialist in nicotine, notes that JUUL delivers more nicotine than other e-cigarettes, and that the salts also probably reduce the harshness, making it relatively easy for a new smoker, such as a teenager, to ingest more nicotine than they are aware of.[4]

As of January 2018, JUUL accounts for half the e-cigarette market; sales increased 700% in 2016.[19] It is particularly popular with teenagers.[19][16] In 2015, John Schachter, director of state communications for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, voiced concern regarding the youth of men and women portrayed in JUUL's advertising, particularly in combination with the design.[20] "We're seeing more and more irresponsible marketing of unregulated products such as e-cigarettes," Mr. Schachter stated regarding the JUUL campaign.[20] In 2018 Matt Myers, president of the organization, said the design "misleads about risk" of addiction.[19] Tyler Goldman, former CEO of PAX Labs, said to Fortune in 2016 that "JUUL should not be used by those under the legal age, nor should any nicotine products, as stated by the U.S. Surgeon General."[21] A 2018 Truth Initiative survey found 63% of teens and young adults do not understand that the JUUL they use contains nicotine.[22]

In 2017 JUUL was spun out of Pax Labs as an independent company.[5] Goldman was the CEO of JUUL after the spin-off.[5] It was announced on December 11, 2017 that Goldman "intends to pursue new entrepreneurial opportunities."[5] James Monsees is an executive and board member at JUUL.[5] Adam Bowen is an executive and board member at JUUL.[5] Other board members include Nicholas Pritzker, Riaz Valani, and Hoyoung Huh.[5]

In April 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that JUUL Labs turn over documents to "better understand the reportedly high rates of youth use and the particular youth appeal of these products."[23] The FDA's request included asking the company to provide documents about the design and marketing of the JUUL, research on the safety of the products, and whether certain features of the device's design appeal to specific age groups.[23] FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb expressed concern about how the JUUL can be easily disguised as a USB flash drive and that the JUUL delivers a high amount of nicotine.[23] "We don’t yet fully understand why these products are so popular among youth," Dr. Scott Gottlieb stated.[24] With its youth education strategy, JUUL Labs stated that they would spend $30 million on a campaign to keep JUUL out of the hands of young people in addition to working with the FDA, which they announced in a press release in April 2018.[25] JUUL Labs also announced their support for raising the minimum age for vaping products from 18 to 21.[26] JUUL Labs CEO Kevin Burns said, "we are committed to deterring young people, as well as adults who do not currently smoke from using our products. We cannot be more emphatic on this point: No young person or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL."[27]

Health concerns

JUUL's health concerns have been debated.[28] Ari Atkins, Pax Labs' R&D engineer, said "We don’t think a lot about addiction here because we’re not trying to design a cessation product at all."[29] He added, "anything about health is not on our mind."[29] The FDA has stated that the nicotine in JUUL is sufficient to result in addiction.[23] The FDA further stated, "In some cases, our kids are trying these products and liking them without even knowing they contain nicotine. And that’s a problem, because as we know the nicotine in these products can rewire an adolescent’s brain, leading to years of addiction."[23]

References

  1. ^ "PAX Labs Inc". ZoomInfo. 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Will Yakowicz (June 10, 2015). "This Silicon Valley Company Just Raised $47 Million to Smoke Cigarette Makers". Inc.
  3. ^ a b Freddie Dawson (July 31, 2015). "Pax Labs Looking At International Expansion". Forbes. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Erin Brodwin (8 March 2018). "A vape pen created by Stanford graduates is taking over US high schools — and doctors are frightened". Business Insider – via San Francisco Chronicle.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ari Levi (December 19, 2017). "E-cigarette maker Juul is raising $150 million after spinning out of vaping company". CNBC.
  6. ^ Tom Huddleston, Jr. (June 10, 2015). "Investors are lining up for this e-cig, vaporization company". Fortune. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Jordan Crook (June 10, 2015). "Pax Labs Heats Up With $46.7 Million In Series C Funding". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  8. ^ Melia Robinson (August 22, 2016). "The company behind the 'iPhone of vaporizers' is reinventing the e-cigarette". Business Insider.
  9. ^ Melia Robinson (October 13, 2016). "The 'Apple of vaping' made an e-cigarette for marijuana — here's what it's like". Business Insider.
  10. ^ Alyssa Stahr (5 June 2015). "New Product: PAX LABS Introduces E-CIGARETTE JUUL". Vape News.
  11. ^ Sean Thomas (December 22, 2015). "PAX secures patent for "Nicotine Salt E-Cigarette"". The Slanted.
  12. ^ Ryan Lawler (April 20, 2015). "Vaporization Startup Pax Labs Introduces Juul, Its Next-Gen E-Cigarette". TechCrunch. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Aaron Souppouris (June 3, 2015). "Juul is the e-cig that will finally stop me from smoking (I hope)". Engadget. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Nitasha Tiku (April 21, 2015). "Startup behind the Lambo of vaporizers just launched an intelligent e-cigarette". The Verge. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Ben Radding. "Pax Juul: The iPhone of E-cigs?". Men's Fitness. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Teitell, Beth (November 16, 2017). "'Juuling': The most widespread phenomenon you've never heard of". The Boston Globe.
  17. ^ Wisniewski, Christie (April 18, 2018). "Vaping, juuling latest threats to teen, pre-teen health". The Recorder.
  18. ^ Joel Johnson (April 7, 2017). "This Is The Keurig Of Vaping, And I Love It". Co.Design. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c Kimberly Suiters (January 31, 2018). "Are your kids JUULing at school? 7 On Your Side investigates". WJLA-TV.
  20. ^ a b Declan Harty (June 23, 2015). "Juul Hopes To Reinvent E-Cigarette Ads with 'Vaporized' Campaign". Advertising Age.
  21. ^ Tom Huddleston, Jr. (8 December 2016). "What the Surgeon General's E-Cigarette Warning Means for the Red-Hot Vaping Industry". Fortune.
  22. ^ Laura Kelly (April 18, 2018). "63 percent of teens, young adults, don't believe JUUL e-cigarettes contain nicotine, survey shows". The Washington Times.
  23. ^ a b c d e Gottlieb, Scott (April 24, 2018). "Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new enforcement actions and a Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan to stop youth use of, and access to, JUUL and other e-cigarettes" (Press release). Silver Spring, MD: Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  24. ^ Zernike, Kate (2018-04-24). "F.D.A. Cracks Down on 'Juuling' Among Teenagers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  25. ^ Davis, Victoria (April 25, 2018). "JUUL Labs Announces Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Underage Use" (Press release). San Francisco: JUUL Labs, Inc. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  26. ^ Press, The Associated (2018-04-25). "Juul Maker to Invest $30M to Combat Underage Vaping". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  27. ^ Salynn Boyles (27 April 2018). "JUUL Maker Vows to Combat Teen Use of E-Cigarette". MedPage Today.
  28. ^ David Pierce (April 21, 2015). "This Might Just Be the First Great E-Cig". Wired.
  29. ^ a b Nitasha Tiku (April 21, 2015). "Startup behind the Lambo of vaporizers just launched an intelligent e-cigarette". The Verge.

Further reading

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