Nicotest

Sales pitch not science

In January 2005, GeneWatch issued a press release calling for Oxford University to withdraw its funding and support for a genetic test claimed to be related to nicotine addiction. The new test, NicoTest, was launched on 2nd December by g-Nostics Ltd, a 'spin out' company from Oxford University. Oxford University was one of g-Nostics' shareholders and g-Nostics said its claims were based on research by the University's scientists

Following our press release and briefing, the misleading claims made for the NicoTest genetic test on its website were substantially revised. The company's previous claims to improve quit rates were removed and, later, the website's reference to an "addiction gene" was also removed, as there is no evidence that the gene included in the test is linked to nicotine addiction or likelihood of smoking. Oxford University and Cancer Research Technology, which helped form G-Nostics, both decided to end their involvement with the company.

G-Nostics has continued to market Nicotest and now claims it has new evidence that its programme 'doubles' quit rates. This claim is based on an unpublished study, comparing results after 4 weeks with results from an NHS stop smoking service. However, the smokers in the study are people who volunteer via the Nicotest website, which is likely to bias the results.

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