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Juul named in seizure reports that triggered FDA probe

A number of people who reported having seizures after using devices made by Juul Labs Inc. prompted the U.S. government to investigate whether electronic cigarettes can cause them, Bloomberg News reported Aug. 29, citing documents obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Three reports were sent to the FDA's online safety portal, although the agency was not able to formally verify whether they are indeed linked to Juul devices, the news wire said, as the Juul brand is commonly substituted by some people when referring to e-cigarettes.

The reports were from two parents of teenagers and one from a 23-year-old man, who all said they thought Juul caused the seizures they or their sons experienced, the report said. Both teenagers were found to have been using 5% nicotine pods from Juul, although it remains uncertain whether Juul devices triggered the seizures, the news outlet said.

"No proof of causality, but at a minimum, an association with Juul," FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Mitch Zeller reportedly said in an email dated Oct. 15, 2018, to then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

In an emailed statement to S&P Global Market Intelligence, a spokesperson from Juul said while the FDA has not reached out to them regarding the issue, it will "vigilantly monitor for any evidence of potential safety issues and work cooperatively as we continue to combat youth usage and eliminate cigarettes."

On Aug. 7, the FDA said it is investigating 127 reports of people having seizures following the use of e-cigarettes. The FDA, which started its investigation into vaping-related seizures in October 2018, gathered 32 more reports before going public in April with a broader public warning.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was investigating 193 possible cases of severe lung disease related to e-cigarette use in 22 states.

On Aug. 21, a U.S. House of Representatives committee launched an investigation into the health effects of e-cigarettes, as well as alleged attempts to market vape devices to teenagers. Earlier this month, Juul and Philip Morris USA Inc. were sued for allegedly violating racketeering laws to market e-cigarettes to underage users. Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA, also owns a 35% stake in Juul.