Narrative Review of Novel Nicotine-Delivery Systems and Emerging Pharmaceuticals for Tobacco Cessation

Background: Debate continues to swirl around the effectiveness of novel nicotine-delivery products such as snus and e-cigarettes as tobacco cessation aids. The purpose of this review is to quantify the state of research on modern products, including e-products, and established or developing pharmaceuticals on assisting nicotine users in achieving cessation. Methods: This study relied on a comprehensive assessment of research articles, clinical trials, drug approvals, and textbook material available via PubMed, Ovid Wolters Kluwer, and Wiley. We utilized Python 3.14.2, Anaconda3, the ShinyWeb App, and Py.Litstudy to investigate the selected literature. Our key study elements are product evolution and cessation behavior associated with e-cigarettes, snus, nicotine gum, nicotine dermal patches, bupropion, varenicline, and cytisine. Results: This manuscript assessed 144 manuscripts published between 1952 and 2025. E-cigarettes and snus, while containing some limited cessation benefit, were not identified to be effective enough at attaining cessation (when used exclusively) to be prescribed as cessation tools. Cytisine was identified as having very similar cessation outcomes to established pharmaceuticals such as varenicline. Conclusions: Since their iteration, e-cigarettes and snus products were marketed as cessation aids. This review found that there is scant evidence to support that modern snus and e-cigarette products work as cessation aids when used in exclusion of other more traditional approaches to cessative aid. Additionally, more modern pharmaceuticals such as cytisine may have benefit as solo cessation tools over novel nicotine-delivery products.