Latest news with #StaceyKennedy
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two-Thirds of U.S. Healthcare Practitioners Mistakenly Believe or Are Unsure Whether Nicotine Causes Cancer, According to New Survey
Respondents want more FDA guidance on reduced-risk products to inform patient care WASHINGTON, May 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey, funded by Philip Morris International's U.S. affiliates (PMI U.S.), has found that 47% of U.S. healthcare practitioners—rising to 59% among medical professionals who indicate that half or more of their patients smoke cigarettes—mistakenly believe nicotine is a carcinogen, despite scientific consensus that the harms of smoking primarily stem not from nicotine but from the burning of tobacco. Another 19% are unsure. Practitioners surveyed generally agree that smoke-free products—such as nicotine pouches and other noncombustible alternatives—are addictive and not risk-free, but still pose less risk than cigarettes. However, the survey results also show that misconceptions about nicotine persist and are obstructing progress on tobacco harm reduction. Povaddo LLC fielded the survey among 1,565 medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and mental health practitioners, across the United States between March 10 and April 5, 2025. The survey results highlighted that: More than two-thirds of medical professionals want the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share clinical evidence that demonstrates the role of smoke-free products in harm reduction (69%) and clear guidance on counseling patients about transitioning to smoke-free alternatives as part of harm reduction strategies (68%). 95% would share FDA-provided information on smoke-free products with their patients. 77% of medical professionals believe addressing smoking and tobacco use should remain a "high priority" for the U.S. government. Despite decades of research as part of tobacco control efforts, misconceptions about nicotine are pervasive among healthcare professionals and others. The survey findings demonstrate an urgent need for healthcare regulators to provide unbiased, scientifically substantiated information about nicotine and nicotine products to the healthcare community. Many clinicians report uncertainty about which products are FDA-authorized and point to a lack of up-to-date information as barriers to more frequent and informed patient guidance regarding authorized smoke-free products. This is critical at a time when an estimated 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses. "Healthcare professionals are at the heart of patient care and need reliable, science-based information to help their patients make informed choices," said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. "These findings reinforce the urgent need for transparent, evidence-driven communication from the FDA and other health authorities about the full spectrum of tobacco and nicotine products. We encourage the agency to provide timely, scientifically validated guidance to healthcare practitioners on FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives. Ensuring clinicians have access to accurate information is essential to help adults 21+ who smoke make better choices and improve public health." This need for clear, science-based information is especially urgent given the survey's findings about persistent misconceptions within the medical community that may result in incomplete or inaccurate information being shared with patients. "One of the most striking findings from this research is the prevalence of misinformation about nicotine—even among otherwise well-informed healthcare professionals," said Matt Holman, vice president of U.S. scientific engagement and regulatory strategy at PMI U.S. and former director of the Office of Science at the FDA. "Addressing these misconceptions with robust, evidence-based communication from authorities like the FDA is crucial to helping providers guide their patients and support harm reduction." PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally in innovative smoke-free products and remains committed to giving adults 21+ access to FDA-authorized better alternatives. Read the full findings of the Tobacco Harm Reduction: U.S. Medical Professionals Survey (2025) here. Access PMI's science at and fact sheet on nicotine here. About PMI Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million U.S. adults 21+ nicotine consumers—30 million of whom smoke cigarettes or use traditional tobacco—with innovative products that help them leave conventional cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products behind. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America's Owensboro, Kentucky, plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and a facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS for the IQOS heated tobacco device. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia. U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35—or who appear to be under the age of 35—in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge®, a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+. U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match—a leader in oral nicotine delivery—creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands. IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS is not risk-free and is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely. In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match's General snus as a modified risk tobacco product. Commitment to corporate social responsibility PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI's philanthropy pillars include supporting military veterans and military spouses, advancing local economic efforts in communities where PMI operates and natural disaster response and prevention. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials. For more information, please visit and References to "PMI" mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. "PMI U.S.," "we," "our," and "us" refer to PMI U.S. businesses. View source version on Contacts Philip Morris InternationalPMI U.S. CommunicationsMatt Sheaff+1 (203) Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two-Thirds of U.S. Healthcare Practitioners Mistakenly Believe or Are Unsure Whether Nicotine Causes Cancer, According to New Survey
Respondents want more FDA guidance on reduced-risk products to inform patient care WASHINGTON, May 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey, funded by Philip Morris International's U.S. affiliates (PMI U.S.), has found that 47% of U.S. healthcare practitioners—rising to 59% among medical professionals who indicate that half or more of their patients smoke cigarettes—mistakenly believe nicotine is a carcinogen, despite scientific consensus that the harms of smoking primarily stem not from nicotine but from the burning of tobacco. Another 19% are unsure. Practitioners surveyed generally agree that smoke-free products—such as nicotine pouches and other noncombustible alternatives—are addictive and not risk-free, but still pose less risk than cigarettes. However, the survey results also show that misconceptions about nicotine persist and are obstructing progress on tobacco harm reduction. Povaddo LLC fielded the survey among 1,565 medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and mental health practitioners, across the United States between March 10 and April 5, 2025. The survey results highlighted that: More than two-thirds of medical professionals want the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share clinical evidence that demonstrates the role of smoke-free products in harm reduction (69%) and clear guidance on counseling patients about transitioning to smoke-free alternatives as part of harm reduction strategies (68%). 95% would share FDA-provided information on smoke-free products with their patients. 77% of medical professionals believe addressing smoking and tobacco use should remain a "high priority" for the U.S. government. Despite decades of research as part of tobacco control efforts, misconceptions about nicotine are pervasive among healthcare professionals and others. The survey findings demonstrate an urgent need for healthcare regulators to provide unbiased, scientifically substantiated information about nicotine and nicotine products to the healthcare community. Many clinicians report uncertainty about which products are FDA-authorized and point to a lack of up-to-date information as barriers to more frequent and informed patient guidance regarding authorized smoke-free products. This is critical at a time when an estimated 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses. "Healthcare professionals are at the heart of patient care and need reliable, science-based information to help their patients make informed choices," said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. "These findings reinforce the urgent need for transparent, evidence-driven communication from the FDA and other health authorities about the full spectrum of tobacco and nicotine products. We encourage the agency to provide timely, scientifically validated guidance to healthcare practitioners on FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives. Ensuring clinicians have access to accurate information is essential to help adults 21+ who smoke make better choices and improve public health." This need for clear, science-based information is especially urgent given the survey's findings about persistent misconceptions within the medical community that may result in incomplete or inaccurate information being shared with patients. "One of the most striking findings from this research is the prevalence of misinformation about nicotine—even among otherwise well-informed healthcare professionals," said Matt Holman, vice president of U.S. scientific engagement and regulatory strategy at PMI U.S. and former director of the Office of Science at the FDA. "Addressing these misconceptions with robust, evidence-based communication from authorities like the FDA is crucial to helping providers guide their patients and support harm reduction." PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally in innovative smoke-free products and remains committed to giving adults 21+ access to FDA-authorized better alternatives. Read the full findings of the Tobacco Harm Reduction: U.S. Medical Professionals Survey (2025) here. Access PMI's science at and fact sheet on nicotine here. About PMI Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million U.S. adults 21+ nicotine consumers—30 million of whom smoke cigarettes or use traditional tobacco—with innovative products that help them leave conventional cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products behind. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America's Owensboro, Kentucky, plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and a facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS for the IQOS heated tobacco device. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia. U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35—or who appear to be under the age of 35—in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge®, a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+. U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match—a leader in oral nicotine delivery—creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands. IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS is not risk-free and is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely. In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match's General snus as a modified risk tobacco product. Commitment to corporate social responsibility PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI's philanthropy pillars include supporting military veterans and military spouses, advancing local economic efforts in communities where PMI operates and natural disaster response and prevention. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials. For more information, please visit and References to "PMI" mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. "PMI U.S.," "we," "our," and "us" refer to PMI U.S. businesses. View source version on Contacts Philip Morris InternationalPMI U.S. CommunicationsMatt Sheaff+1 (203) Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Two-Thirds of U.S. Healthcare Practitioners Mistakenly Believe or Are Unsure Whether Nicotine Causes Cancer, According to New Survey
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey, funded by Philip Morris International's U.S. affiliates (PMI U.S.), has found that 47% of U.S. healthcare practitioners—rising to 59% among medical professionals who indicate that half or more of their patients smoke cigarettes—mistakenly believe nicotine is a carcinogen, despite scientific consensus that the harms of smoking primarily stem not from nicotine but from the burning of tobacco. Another 19% are unsure. Practitioners surveyed generally agree that smoke-free products—such as nicotine pouches and other noncombustible alternatives—are addictive and not risk-free, but still pose less risk than cigarettes. However, the survey results also show that misconceptions about nicotine persist and are obstructing progress on tobacco harm reduction. Povaddo LLC fielded the survey among 1,565 medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and mental health practitioners, across the United States between March 10 and April 5, 2025. The survey results highlighted that: More than two-thirds of medical professionals want the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share clinical evidence that demonstrates the role of smoke-free products in harm reduction (69%) and clear guidance on counseling patients about transitioning to smoke-free alternatives as part of harm reduction strategies (68%). 95% would share FDA-provided information on smoke-free products with their patients. 77% of medical professionals believe addressing smoking and tobacco use should remain a 'high priority' for the U.S. government. Despite decades of research as part of tobacco control efforts, misconceptions about nicotine are pervasive among healthcare professionals and others. The survey findings demonstrate an urgent need for healthcare regulators to provide unbiased, scientifically substantiated information about nicotine and nicotine products to the healthcare community. Many clinicians report uncertainty about which products are FDA-authorized and point to a lack of up-to-date information as barriers to more frequent and informed patient guidance regarding authorized smoke-free products. This is critical at a time when an estimated 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses. 'Healthcare professionals are at the heart of patient care and need reliable, science-based information to help their patients make informed choices,' said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. 'These findings reinforce the urgent need for transparent, evidence-driven communication from the FDA and other health authorities about the full spectrum of tobacco and nicotine products. We encourage the agency to provide timely, scientifically validated guidance to healthcare practitioners on FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives. Ensuring clinicians have access to accurate information is essential to help adults 21+ who smoke make better choices and improve public health.' This need for clear, science-based information is especially urgent given the survey's findings about persistent misconceptions within the medical community that may result in incomplete or inaccurate information being shared with patients. 'One of the most striking findings from this research is the prevalence of misinformation about nicotine—even among otherwise well-informed healthcare professionals,' said Matt Holman, vice president of U.S. scientific engagement and regulatory strategy at PMI U.S. and former director of the Office of Science at the FDA. 'Addressing these misconceptions with robust, evidence-based communication from authorities like the FDA is crucial to helping providers guide their patients and support harm reduction.' PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally in innovative smoke-free products and remains committed to giving adults 21+ access to FDA-authorized better alternatives. Read the full findings of the Tobacco Harm Reduction: U.S. Medical Professionals Survey (2025) here. Access PMI's science at and fact sheet on nicotine here. About PMI Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million U.S. adults 21+ nicotine consumers—30 million of whom smoke cigarettes or use traditional tobacco—with innovative products that help them leave conventional cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products behind. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America's Owensboro, Kentucky, plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and a facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS for the IQOS heated tobacco device. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia. U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35—or who appear to be under the age of 35—in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge ®, a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+. U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match—a leader in oral nicotine delivery—creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands. IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS is not risk-free and is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely. In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match's General snus as a modified risk tobacco product. Commitment to corporate social responsibility PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI's philanthropy pillars include supporting military veterans and military spouses, advancing local economic efforts in communities where PMI operates and natural disaster response and prevention. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials. For more information, please visit and References to 'PMI' mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. 'PMI U.S.,' 'we,' 'our,' and 'us' refer to PMI U.S. businesses.
Business Wire
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
PMI U.S. Reveals Ft. Lauderdale as Next IQOS Launch City to Provide Residents 21+ Who Smoke a Better Alternative to Leave Cigarettes Behind
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PMI U.S. today announced the introduction of its IQOS heated tobacco system in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. The 'Be the First' pilot program will give Fort Lauderdale area residents 21+ who consume nicotine the opportunity to join a waiting list to be among the first to try this innovative product. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing alternatives that are a better choice than continuing to smoke. Today's announcement comes after more than 5,000 adults aged 21 and over participated in the 'Be the First' pilot program in Austin, TX, where IQOS is now commercially available. In Florida, around 3.31 million legal-age consumers regularly use nicotine. The majority of them use cigarettes, the most harmful form of nicotine consumption, or use other traditional tobacco products. 'We believe having a portfolio of satisfying smoke-free alternatives can help traditional tobacco users switch completely and walk away from cigarettes for good,' said Stacey Kennedy, U.S. CEO, PMI. 'The Fort Lauderdale region offers a dynamic blend of culture and industry, and we're thrilled to introduce IQOS to this community.' IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it, significantly reducing the production of harmful chemicals compared with cigarettes. While the product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, which is addictive and not risk free, it's a better alternative for adults aged 21 and over who smoke. IQOS is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a modified risk tobacco product, which means the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Through the 'Be the First' IQOS Circle, PMI U.S. is inviting residents of designated areas of greater Fort Lauderdale to join the waiting list at to be among the first to have access to IQOS once available. The waiting list is exclusively for adults aged 21 and over who currently smoke or use another nicotine product. As part of the launch, PMI U.S. is activating around Miami during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix weekend, offering educational opportunities at an IQOS lounge, as well as official IQOS launch events. IQOS is available in around 70 countries. Since launching in Japan a decade ago, it has helped an estimated 23 million adults worldwide make the switch from cigarettes. About PMI U.S. Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and its U.S. affiliates (collectively, 'PMI U.S.') employ more than 2,500 people. PMI U.S. is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million nicotine consumers in the U.S. — 30 million of which still smoke traditional cigarettes — with better alternatives. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $14 billion globally to develop and commercialize FDA-authorized smoke-free products for legal-age nicotine consumers. PMI U.S. operates smoke-free product manufacturing facilities, including Swedish Match North America's Owensboro, Kentucky, plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches and Triaga's facility in Wilson, North Carolina, that produces HEETS as part of the IQOS heated tobacco system. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Virginia. U.S. marketing practices support 21+ access only PMI U.S. is committed to responsible marketing practices focused on limiting access to adults 21 years of age and older. PMI U.S. does not use social media influencers in the U.S. or people under the age of 35 — or who appear to be under the age of 35 — in marketing materials. PMI U.S. also employs independent age-verification systems, such as Double Verify, to direct digital advertising to those over 21, and owned digital platforms are age-gated at the point of access and restricted to current nicotine consumers who are 21+. Swedish Match North America is a Manufacturer Advisory Council member of the We Card Program, a national nonprofit serving retailers of age-restricted products. PMI is also a founding board member and investor in TruAge®, a free retail technology that provides stores with a more accurate method of age verification, including the ability to better detect fake IDs, to ensure access is limited to those 21+. U.S. mission to improve public health through smoke-free products Because adult nicotine consumer preferences differ, PMI U.S. is working to offer a range of smoke-free options for adults 21+. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match — a leader in oral nicotine delivery — creating a global smoke-free champion led by the ZYN and IQOS brands. IQOS is authorized by the FDA as a modified risk tobacco product, meaning the FDA has found it appropriate for the promotion of public health. Although IQOS heatsticks are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which is addictive, studies show that because the device heats tobacco instead of burning it, it significantly reduces the production of and exposure to harmful chemicals compared to conventional cigarettes for adults who smoke and who switch to IQOS completely. In 2025, the FDA authorized all 20 Swedish Match ZYN nicotine pouch products currently sold in the U.S., making ZYN the only FDA-authorized nicotine pouch on the market to help adults who use cigarettes or traditional tobacco products completely switch. The FDA has authorized Swedish Match's General snus as a modified risk tobacco product. Currently, PMI U.S. holds more than 80 percent of modified risk tobacco product authorizations and more than 45 percent of premarket tobacco product authorizations. Commitment to corporate social responsibility PMI U.S. has contributed approximately $25 million to charitable causes since 2022, amplifying the good work of organizations already active within communities through both financial contributions and volunteering. PMI U.S.'s philanthropy efforts include supporting military veterans and military spouses, disaster prevention and relief and grassroots economic development. PMI U.S. helped form United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade, a coalition of nearly 100 national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement agencies, academics and leading business organizations working to combat illegal trade. USA-IT has trained more than 36,000 law enforcement officials. For more information, please visit and 'PMI' refers the Philip Morris International family of companies. 'PMI U.S.', 'we', 'our', and 'us' refer to PMI's U.S. businesses.
Axios
30-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Philip Morris International U.S. CEO: Nicotine has "cognitive benefits"
The CEO of Philip Morris International 's U.S. business argued that nicotine is "misunderstood" and contains "cognitive benefits," contending that American regulators should embrace smoking alternatives as the company pursues its goal of eliminating cigarette sales. Why it matters: The Trump administration is shaking up the federal government, putting newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a position to reshape the regulatory framework for Big Tobacco if he wants to. The big picture: Sales of PMI's Zyn nicotine pouches are skyrocketing in the U.S., where the company is investing heavily in new manufacturing to keep up with demand. Shipments of PMI nicotine pouches in the Americas rose 53.8% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period a year earlier. The company got 42% of its revenue from smoke-free products in the quarter, up from 25% a year earlier. PMI — which sells cigarettes outside of the U.S. but does not sell them here — still gets a majority of its revenue from smokers, but that's likely to flip soon as Zyn sales continue to grow. (PMI split off from Philip Morris USA owner Altria Group in 2008. Their deal called for Altria to sell Marlboro cigarettes in the U.S., while Philip Morris International would sell them in other markets.) Zoom in: Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI's U.S. division, told Axios in an interview that the company is "very hopeful that new FDA leadership" will be "amping up the communication to smokers and the rest of society about the risk of smoking and the alternatives that are vastly better." (Stacey Kennedy is not related to RFK.) "You have to be able to separate out the misconceptions of what causes harm — and nicotine is probably one of the most misunderstood compounds, because many people believe that nicotine is responsible for smoking-related disease, and it's not," she said. "It's not a carcinogen, and nicotine is not the primary cause of smoking-related disease." Yes, but: Nicotine is addictive — and tobacco industry watchdogs say products that contain nicotine, such as pouches and e-cigarettes, can serve as a gateway to smoking, especially for teens. "Tobacco companies have a long history of lying to Congress and the public about the addictiveness of nicotine, so they're not a credible source of information about nicotine," Yolonda C. Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, tells Axios in an email. "These comments by Philip Morris International show they haven't changed and continue to mislead the public today. The scientific evidence is clear that nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug that often leads to lifetime use of tobacco products that causes enormous harm to human health." Stacey Kennedy said the decline in cigarette usage among Americans — youth tobacco usage hit an all-time low in 2024, according to the CDC — tells a different story. "Tell me how it can be a gateway to smoking when cigarette smoking volumes continue to decline in the United States," she said. She acknowledged that nicotine addiction is a reality but noted that Americans have a wide range of addictions: "There's actually some cognitive benefits in nicotine — and while addictive and not risk free, it's certainly by no means among the most harmful addictions that Americans face." State of play: In the final days of the Biden administration, PMI scored a big victory when the FDA authorized the marketing of 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products after an extensive scientific review. Sales of Zyn were already soaring before that approval, prompting PMI to run a Kentucky factory around the clock and invest in construction of a new $600 million Zyn plant in Aurora, Colorado. Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science in the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, noted in the FDA's announcement about Zyn's marketing approval that "the data show that these nicotine pouch products" are "benefiting adults who use cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products and completely switch to these products." The intrigue: There's new leadership in place at HHS and the FDA — and they've said little about their approach to tobacco and nicotine product regulation so far. An HHS spokesperson told Axios that the FDA's "position is centered on reducing the harm caused by nicotine addiction — particularly through combustible tobacco products like cigarettes — while exploring strategies to make less harmful alternatives available to adults who are trying to quit smoking." "Nicotine itself, while addictive, is not the primary cause of smoking-related disease and death. Those are caused by the thousands of harmful chemicals in combustible tobacco," the spokesperson said. The FDA is "working to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes to minimally addictive or non-addictive levels, aiming to prevent youth initiation and help current smokers quit." Joanna Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said not enough is known about the "short-term and long-term effects of nicotine products such as Zyn," so it's critical that regulators control promotional efforts. "Comprehensively regulating how and where manufacturers can promote these products is an action that is supported by existing research and falls well within policymakers' capacity to implement and enforce," Cohen told Axios in an email. The big question: Is PMI's stated goal of eliminating cigarette usage achievable? Kennedy declined to set a timeline for the goal. "We would say as soon as possible," she said, arguing that the FDA should amplify messages about smoking alternatives.
