Explore the groundbreaking science behind our smoke-free journey
When it comes to science and research, we set ourselves the highest standards, and our scientific methods are inspired by the pharmaceutical industry. We share our scientific findings publicly and encourage others to review our work.
Our vision is to offer adult smokers who don’t quit a better choice than continued smoking, and to transform for good. How are we making this vision a reality? By developing and delivering a portfolio of better alternatives to smoking that provide nicotine without burning tobacco, and which adult smokers find satisfying.
Tobacco harm reduction
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What is tobacco
harm reduction?
Better alternatives exist for the nine out of 10 adult smokers who continue smoking cigarettes in any given year.
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The facts about
nicotine
Nicotine is a chemical that occurs naturally in tobacco. Whilst it is addictive and is not risk-free, it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.
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The problem with
burning tobacco
It’s a well-known fact that cigarette smoking is harmful and causes serious disease. But not everyone knows why.
Does nicotine cause cancer?
Dr Gizelle Baker, Vice President of Global Scientific Engagement at Philip Morris International, corrects misinformation about nicotine and cancer.
Words appear on screen reading:
Let’s talk with Gizelle Baker
Interviewer says:
One of the scary facts that people talk about
all the time is that nicotine in these
products is what causes cancer.
Gizelle Baker, Vice President Global Scientific Engagement, replies:
Well, that's a understandable confusion,
but also a wrong conclusion.
Many people think about smoking
and they automatically connect it to nicotine.
So, people think, well,
smoking delivers nicotine
so, it must be the nicotine that causes the cancer.
I can understand why,
but that's factually and scientifically incorrect.
We know from the International
Agency of Research on Cancer
the world-leading experts on cancer.
They looked at tobacco
in tobacco smoke, and they came up
with a list of the compounds in it
that cause cancer.
And nicotine did not make that list.
So, we know it's not causing cancer.
Words appear on screen reading:
This video is for informational purposes only
on the nicotine pouch category manufactures
under strict standards.
It has no commercial intent
and does not promote product use.
Nicotine is addictive and not risk-free.
Philip Morris International's logo appears on screen.
Assessing our product health impacts
Harm reduction is nothing new—but assessment is vital to understand the impact when applied to tobacco.
Learn more
Q&A with Dr Patrick Picavet, Chief Medical Officer at PMI
5 min readFind out answers to key questions about clinical and real-world evidence studies on our smoke-free products.
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The observed positive short-term effects of switching to our better alternatives to smoking
4 min readQuitting tobacco and nicotine products completely will always be the best option for smokers—but for those adults who would otherwise continue smoking, better alternatives exist.
Smoke-free products contain nicotine, so are they really better?
The majority of these products contain nicotine. And if they contain nicotine, are they really less harmful than a cigarette? Nicotine is I believe, one of the most misunderstood molecules in the world.
Interviewer asks:
The thing is, the majority of these products contain nicotine.
And if they contain nicotine, are they really less harmful than a cigarette?
Nevena Crljenko, Vice President, Public Affairs, Philip Morris International replies:
Nicotine is I believe, one of the most misunderstood molecules in the world.
It’s not a primary cause of smoking-related diseases. It’s not carcinogenic.
It is conflated in people’s minds with cigarettes, with smoking, with smoking-related diseases.
What it is, is addictive.
So it’s part of the problem because it's contained in a cigarette.
So it needs to be part of the solution too.
Because one of the reasons why people smoke is the nicotine.
So obviously the alternatives to smoking have to contain nicotine as well.
But if we significantly reduce other compounds that people are consuming while they consume nicotine, we’ve created something which is a better alternative to smoking.
All about: Heated tobacco products
Also known as heat-not-burn products, these alternatives to smoking heat tobacco below the level of burning to release nicotine and flavors.
5 min readLearn more
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All about: Snus, snuff, and nicotine pouches
5 min readSnus, snuff, and nicotine pouches are all placed in the mouth to release nicotine and flavors. Find out more about them here.
All about: Vapes and vaping
5 min readAlso known as e-cigarettes and e-vapor products, vapes heat a liquid to produce an aerosol that is then inhaled. Find out more about them here.
Read more on our science
Advancing science and building trust in our products to help society achieve a smoke-free future
5 min readApplying rigorous standards to the science supporting our smoke-free products is vital to ensure they are a better choice for adult smokers than continued smoking.
The difference between cigarette smoke and smoke-free product vapor
2 min readCigarette smoke and smoke-free vapor are two very different types of aerosol. Discover the differences between them.
PMI’s findings on smoke-free products
3 min readStudies have shown PMI's Tobacco Heating System reduces average levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents compared to cigarette smoke.