LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM) today announces the positive results from an advanced clinical study on IQOS, the company’s first electronically heated tobacco product, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Conducted in Japan over a three-month period by the well-known clinical research organization, the Osaki Hospital Tokyo Heart Center, the study showed that smokers who switched to IQOS:
- Reduced their exposure to 15 harmful chemicals to levels that approached those of smokers who quit smoking;
- Showed improvements in measured health indicators specific to smoking-related diseases, such as lung and heart disease. In all cases, the health indicators improved in the same direction as seen in smokers who quit. Further testing through a longer-term study is underway; and
- Found the product satisfying and were likely to completely switch to it.
The research was conducted in line with internationally respected guidelines for clinical trials, such as Good Clinical Practice as defined by the International Conference for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. 160 smokers were divided into three groups: continued smoking, quitting, and complete switching to IQOS. Participants spent five days at a clinic and continued the experiment at home for an additional 85 days, during which time biological samples and measurements were regularly taken.
PMI’s research program to confirm the risk reduction potential of IQOS includes laboratory and clinical studies, research on actual product use, and evaluation of how well smokers understand communications related to reduced risk. This and a related study are the latest of an eight-part clinical research program completed on IQOS to support reduced exposure and preliminary improvements in health outcomes. A one-year study with about 1,000 participants is currently ongoing to further support the current strong indications of risk reduction.
PMI’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Frank Lüdicke, said: “This study is an important step to confirm that while IQOS is not risk-free, it is a better choice for the millions of smokers who do not quit. It clearly indicates that smokers who switch to IQOS reduce their exposure to harmful compounds to levels that approach those of smokers who quit smoking. The study also clearly indicates areas of significant risk reduction which we are currently confirming through a longer term study.”
PMI is committed to replacing cigarettes with smoke-free products as soon as possible to the benefit of smokers, society and public health. Over 1.4 million smokers have already switched to IQOS, and the company has plans to expand commercialization to key cities in 30-35 countries by the end of 2017. Since 2008, PMI has hired over 400 scientists and experts and invested over USD 3 billion in research, development and early commercialization for its portfolio of smoke-free products. The company has published over 200 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the past ten years.
The study is available on www.pmiscience.com.
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Philip Morris International Inc.
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) is the world’s leading international tobacco company, with six of the world's top 15 international brands and products sold in more than 180 markets. In addition to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, including Marlboro, the number one global cigarette brand, and other tobacco products, PMI is engaged in the development and commercialization of Reduced-Risk Products (RRPs). RRPs is the term PMI uses to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continued smoking. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry-leading scientific substantiation, PMI aims to provide an RRP portfolio that meets a broad spectrum of adult smoker preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information, see www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.