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.
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.
Tobacco harm reduction
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 External Scientific Affairs, Philip Morris International, 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.
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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, Scientific Engagement, 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.
Smoke-free alternatives
Learn more about our smoke-free alternatives.
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