Regarding the intention of Philip Morris International(PMI)to relaunch its heat-not-burn product IQOS in the United States and the widespread concern from American health organizations,here is a summary of key points in English:
• Concerns from Health Organizations:
• Six health organizations,including the American Academy of Pediatrics,the American Lung Association,and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,have submitted a protest letter to the FDA,expressing their concerns about the relaunch of IQOS e-cigarettes.
• These organizations point out that,despite PMI's claim that IQOS helps with quitting smoking,the existing evidence shows that the product's effectiveness in helping people quit smoking is not as advertised.
• Misleading Public Statements:
• The protest letter mentions that PMI has made several potentially misleading public statements,leading people to mistakenly believe that the FDA has confirmed that IQOS can reduce the risk of disease.
• The IQOS product implies that its harm is lower than traditional cigarettes,which violates FDA regulations.
• Lack of Factual Basis:
• Health organizations point out that PMI's claims about IQOS encouraging a large number of traditional smokers to switch to e-cigarettes lack factual basis.
• They cite research data from the International Tobacco Control Project(ITC)at the University of Waterloo in Canada,showing that the quit rates among IQOS users in South Korea and Japan are 30%and 15%,respectively,far lower than the 70%claimed by PMI.
• PMI's Response:
• PMI responded by stating that the company always complies with relevant laws and regulations when discussing science and products,and insists that its statements are in line with FDA orders.
• FDA's Decision:
• The FDA approved the sale of the old version of IQOS by PMI in 2019 but later issued a"risk modification"order,requiring the company to improve the product to reduce the emission of hazardous chemicals.
• Last year,PMI applied to launch the improved latest model of IQOS,but the FDA has not yet made a final decision on whether to approve its market launch.
• Scientific Research and Health Impacts:
• According to systematic reviews,heated tobacco products(HTPs)may have lower chronic disease risks than traditional smoking,including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer,although for non-smokers,they may increase the risk of these diseases.
• Some studies suggest that IQOS may alter mitochondrial function,potentially exacerbating airway inflammation,airway remodeling,and lung cancer.These products have the potential to increase oxidative stress and increase respiratory infections by increasing the adhesion of microbes to the respiratory tract.
In summary,the relaunch of IQOS in the United States has引起了 widespread attention and controversy,involving aspects such as health risks,misleading statements,and regulatory approval.The FDA has not yet made a final decision on PMI's latest IQOS model,while health organizations express serious concerns about the potential harms of the product.