Tobacco Industry News

Reports

Firm makes itself test case for lower-risk tobacco
Star Scientific Inc. has submitted an application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market their tobacco lozenges as a safer alternative to cigarettes. The company has marketed dissolvable tobacco since 2001 under the Ariva and Stonewall brands, and while the company has grown, it still has a relatively small market share. The company has applied for the product to be given “modified-risk” status, based on the fact that the lozenges have very low levels of carcinogens that are found in tobacco smoke. The FDA’s decision on the “test case” application will have major implications to both the public health community, which is concerned with how to reduce negative health effects related to tobacco use, and the tobacco industry, which is interested in developing new products as demand for cigarettes declines. Draft FDA guidelines indicate that it could take a year for the FDA to review the application and make a decision. Read more here.

Drug maker asks FDA to stop RJR test-market sales
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), producer of nicotine replacement therapy products like Nicorette, has requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take dissolvable tobacco products off the market until their safety is evaluated. GSK cites a recent American Heart Association statement that smokeless tobacco products have potential negative health consequences in support of their argument that products like Camel Orbs, Strips, and Sticks should not be used for smoking cessation. These products are already being reviewed by the FDA, and concern over their appeal to minors has been discussed. Click here to read more.

Tobacco industry voter education websites
This election season, two tobacco companies are maintaining websites that present industry perspectives on tobacco control policies. R.J. Reynolds has launched NoCigTax.com, which makes the spurious claim that tobacco taxes result in lost sales and jobs for retailers while unjustly burdening adult tobacco consumers. Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris, USA, has launched TobaccoIssues.com which presents arguments for limiting the use of tobacco control measures such as increased cigarette excise taxes, bans on retail sales in pharmacies, and smoking restrictions in cars and homes. Click here to visit R.J. Reynolds’ website, or click here to see Altria’s website. Click here to read a press release about Altria’s voter education campaign. Click here to download a fact sheet that was assembled by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to counter inaccurate tobacco industry arguments against cigarette tax increases.

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