“Cigarettes belong in museums,” says Philip Morris International CEO during his speech at the UnHerd Club in London

By Eman Hamed

• Jacek Olczak says smoke-free products have a potential for a tenfold reduction in smoking-attributable deaths
• Historical tobacco control measures alone are not working fast enough and science-backed alternatives have the potential to accelerate the decline in cigarette smoking
• Calls on governments to follow the smoking reduction policies by giving adult smokers a wide choice of smoke-free alternatives

Jacek Olczak, Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM), called on governments globally to accelerate the end of cigarettes, clarifying that the current policies to reduce smoking prevalence are not working fast enough and may be prolonging smoking.

In his remarks at the UnHerd Club in London, organized by “UnHerd” British news publication,
Olczak stated that “cigarettes belong in museums”. Drawing upon a new hypothetical model based on World Health Organization data, estimates, and methods, Olczak explained that even if smoke-free products were only a better choice than cigarettes, if people who currently smoke were to switch to them completely, then over their lifetime there’s a potential for a tenfold reduction in smoking-attributable deaths compared with historical tobacco control measures alone. This positive impact could be even greater when combined with traditional measures to discourage initiation and encourage cessation.

He confirmed that the public health cost of ignoring the potential of smoke-free products could be immense, given the absurd paradox that smoke-free products are banned in some countries while cigarettes—despite their far greater risk of harm—can still be sold.

Olczak explained that PMI has invested more than USD 10.5 billion (as of March 31, 2023) since 2008 in developing and commercializing smoke-free products—which today account for nearly 35 percent of the company’s total net revenues. He clarifies that the company’s mission is to reduce smoking by replacing cigarettes with better alternatives and ultimately to make cigarettes obsolete.

“Let there be no mistake: People who have never used tobacco or nicotine, especially minors, should not use these products. And there’s no doubt that quitting altogether, or better still, never starting, is the best choice. However, PMI’s ability to progress on this mission is being frustrated by a combination of blind opposition from anti-tobacco organizations and
governments’ overreliance on the so-called precautionary principle, which some interpret as: better not to do anything until we know everything.” Olczak added.

Olczak called on governments around the world to follow the examples of countries like Sweden and
Japan—as well as the U.K.—and adopt policies that give adult smokers who don’t quit a wide choice of alternatives to continuing smoking so they can make better choices and cigarettes can become a historical artifact.

Olczak also stated that 5 years after the novel products were introduced, the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey showed an unprecedented decline in the number of adults who smoke cigarettes. More recent studies also show that the pace of decline has continued, as data hints that smoke-free products have a positive impact on public health.

He called on anti-tobacco organizations to update their thinking, stop blocking innovation, and work toward a common goal to achieve a smoke-free future, faster. “It’s time for anti-tobacco organizations to stop fighting against us and start fighting for adults who smoke. Just imagine the impact of a potential tenfold further reduction if all current adult smokers were to fully switch for the remainder of their lives to smoke-free products” Olczak added.

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About Philip Morris International (PMI):
Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Since 2008, PMI has invested than USD 10.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. In November 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match – a leader in oral nicotine delivery – creating a global smoke-free champion led by the companies’ IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized versions of PMI’s IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables and Swedish Match’s General snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs). As of March 31, 2023, PMI’s smoke-free products were available for sale in 78 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 18.5 million adults around the world had already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. Smoke-free products accounted for approximately 35% of PMI’s total 2023 firstquarter net revenues. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI announced in February 2021 its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and, through its Vectura Fertin Pharma business, aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. For
more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com