In PMI’s latest Scientific Update, Dr. Jorge Insuasty, Chief Life Sciences Officer, discusses initiatives to develop products that do not contain tobacco or nicotine, as described during the company’s Investor Day call, February 10, 2021.
New areas of research tap into knowledge and expertise gained from PMI’s smoke-free product R&D and include respiratory drug delivery and the application of botanicals to address issues such as sleep and energy.
This issue also revisits science-related milestones from 2020 and explores the impact of PMI’s studies on multiple fields of scientific research.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) today releases the latest issue of its Scientific Update, a publication devoted to research efforts to develop and assess a range of smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes, as well as products beyond nicotine.

In this issue, PMI reviews milestones from 2020, examines advances in multiple fields of research arising from its smoke-free product assessments, and discusses the company’s new research initiatives. Announced in February of this year, these initiatives focus on products that contain neither tobacco nor nicotine, with initial areas of exploration including respiratory drug delivery and botanicals. These efforts run in parallel to PMI’s ongoing work to phase out cigarettes by encouraging those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch to less harmful, smoke-free products.

“With our work in these new areas, we are looking to contribute to a better future. We have a lot to offer the world, and it would be inconsistent with our scientific mission not to use our knowledge to expand into new solutions-based areas such as respiratory drug delivery and botanical products,” said Dr. Jorge Insuasty, Chief Life Sciences Officer. “We are leveraging those areas in which we have strong research and technology expertise to strengthen our business while making a difference for society.”

The May 2021 issue of the Scientific Update also details some of the ways in which PMI’s ongoing research is impacting various fields of science. These include developing a better understanding of the human airway, research and development on aerosols for inhalation, advancing methods in toxicology, and working to minimize animal studies in scientific research, among other examples.

Several science-related milestones from 2020 are also reviewed, including the decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize the marketing of the IQOS tobacco heating system as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP), with reduced exposure information. Another milestone is the creation of PMI’s Open Science online conference series, an ongoing program in which PMI scientists present their research and answer audience questions live. The next event—“The Challenge of Measuring the Use of Nicotine-Containing Products”—will take place on June 10. Register here.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI’s smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2021, PMI’s smoke-free products are available for sale in 66 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.