Philip Morris: Leaked documents show how company tries to influence science and policy on heated tobacco

A series of leaked documents from the tobacco giant Philip Morris International has sparked concern about its research ethics and marketing of controversial new heated tobacco products.

Analysts have said that the documents contradict the company’s claims to conduct transparent science and have warned that products are being promoted as “reduced risk” and part of a “smoke-free narrative,” in defiance of independent research evidence. The leaked documents were analysed by the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. The group found that Philip Morris International and its subsidiary Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) secretly funded academics to carry out research on smoking cessation to promote heated tobacco products.1

The revelations, from 24 leaked documents dating from 2012 to 2020 …