Excited to Announce

GINN’s Strategic Partnership with ClinLia

Driving Evidence-Based Policy for Tobacco Harm Reduction

Today I’m proud to announce a strategic partnership between the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine and ClinLia, anchored by our Memorandum of Understanding: “Beyond Smoking: Harnessing Nicotine Pouches for Public Health Gain.

About ClinLia

CLINLIA is Saudi-owned Clinical research organization CRO (est. 2021) specializing in clinical trials and Pharmacoeconomics committed to transforming healthcare through evidence-based approaches. Their work spans clinical excellence, innovation in harm reduction, and advancing safer nicotine alternatives. By joining forces, GINN and ClinLia will accelerate the translation of research into impactful public health policy.

Key Insight:
Nicotine pouches have emerged as a science-backed, substantially lower-risk alternative to combustible cigarettes. Our challenge isn’t with the product, but with a regulatory vacuum with the MENA Region that limits the potential to help adult smokers while safeguarding youth. A proactive, evidence-based policy framework is urgently needed.

Why This Policy Matters

Combustible Tobacco is The True Enemy

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. The harm comes from smoke—not nicotine.

Stagnation in Cessation

Many smokers struggle to quit with existing tools. Nicotine pouches can replicate aspects of smoking without combustion, supporting both chemical and behavioural transition.

The Regulatory Gap is Risky

In the UK and many countries, pouches are not subject to specific nicotine product laws. This means insufficient youth safeguards, inconsistent product standards, and unchecked marketing.

Innovation Promises Safer Products

Initial studies, including work from CoEHAR, show that product design (like gum-protective barriers) can further reduce risks and improve user experience.

Policy Recommendations

Our partnership with ClinLia centers on advancing these evidence-driven solutions:

  • Establish a risk-proportionate legal category for “smoke-free nicotine products.”
  • Mandate strong youth-access prevention measures, including robust age verification and marketing restrictions.
  • Require clear safety and quality standards, including nicotine caps and transparent ingredient disclosure.
  • Permit factual, science-based communication of relative risks—empowering adult smokers with the knowledge needed to choose safer alternatives.

A Global Perspective

Joe (Youssef) Sakr
Dr. Nveed Chaudhary
Shem Baldeosingh

The high incidence of smoking across our region remains one of the gravest public health challenges,” says Joe Sakr, Associate Director MENA Region at GINN. To answer that urgency, I will partner with Dr Nveed Chaudhary, Chair of GINN’s Science and Standards Committee, to ensure our programme translates rigorous evidence into accessible alternatives for adult smokers.

At GINN, we believe this partnership will advance tobacco harm reduction goals—not just in the MENA Region, but worldwide. We look forward to working alongside ClinLia, policymakers, academics, researchers and public health advocates to deliver a balanced, science-led regulatory framework that maximizes health gains and protects the most vulnerable.

Shem Baldeosingh
Director, Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN)

#TobaccoHarmReduction #NicotinePouches #PublicHealth #PolicyInnovation #GINN #ClinLia #SmokeFreeFuture