PMI Reports More Than 1M Smokers Converted to iQOS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) reaffirmed its commitment to a smoke-free future with a new website that provides a look at the company's vision and how its new products can have a significant impact on adult smokers and society.

More than one million smokers have already converted to iQOS, its electronically heated tobacco product, the company said.

In December 2016, the company submitted a Modified Risk Tobacco Product application for iQOS with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products, as CSNews Online previously reported. iQOS is already available in several international markets.

"Adult smokers are looking for product choices that offer the satisfying taste, ritual, and pleasure they get from cigarettes, but with far lower amounts of the harmful compounds found in smoke," stated Tony Snyder, vice president of communications for PMI. "After more than ten years of research and development, today we have both the science and the technology to make these products a reality for the world's 1.1 billion smokers."

iQOS is one of four smoke-free PMI products to address adult smoker demand and varying preferences. The heated tobacco product launched in late 2014 and is expected to be available in key cities in more than 30 markets this year.

"We're optimistic about the future as we work to progressively transition PMI's existing cigarette business to potentially less harmful alternatives," Snyder said. "There is tremendous opportunity to positively impact public health with the availability of better choices than continued smoking, and we can't do it alone. Contributions from public-health experts, the scientific community and regulators will greatly accelerate switching from cigarettes to smoke-free products."

The new website is available at www.pmi.com.