This study will be a multiregional (Europe, U.S., and Asia) multi-center, open-label study with 3-group, parallel preference design (Cigarette, THS use, and Smoking Abstinence).~Subjects will self-select their group allocation according to their preference. Subjects who would like to quit cigarettes or THS during the study will be encouraged to do so and will be referred to appropriate services.~The study will be declared successful if a slowing of the disease progression is demonstrated with the primary objective endpoint of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) post-bronchodilator at Month 36 or if an improvement of COPD symptoms (COPD Assessment Test total score at interim analysis at Month 12) is demonstrated.
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the slowing of the disease progression including the improvement of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) symptoms in smoking subjects with mild to moderate COPD and a history of chronic bronchitis symptoms (sputum and cough) who switch to the Tobacco Heating System (THS) as compared to those who continue to smoke cigarettes.