Philip Morris claims its smoking device can reduce incidence of lung carcinomas

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) — Philip Morris International Inc. claimed Thursday that its heat-not-burn device, IQOS, can reduce the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas in a cancer animal model.

The tobacco giant said the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas was significantly increased upon exposure to cigarette smoke than normal conditions.

However, the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas in mice exposed to IQOS was significantly lower than mice exposed to cigarettes and similar to mice in normal coniditions, Philip Morris said, citing its 18-month inhalation study in A/J mice.

A/J mice are known to develop lung emphysema and lung cancer in response to cigarette smoke exposure.

Philip Morris said completely switching to its smoke-free product is likely to reduce the risk of smoking-related diseases versus continued smoking.

“This milestone study further strengthens the scientific evidence showing that switching to IQOS is a better choice for smokers than continuing to smoke cigarettes,” said Manuel Peitsch, Philip Morris International’s chief scientific officer.

Manuel Peitsch, Philip Morris International’s chief scientific officer, speaks in a news conference at a Seoul hotel on Aug. 30, 2018, in this photo provided by Philip Morris Korea. (Yonhap)

In June, Philip Morris also said switching to its IQOS reduces health risks compared with continued smoking, citing its six-month clinical study of nearly 1,000 people in the United States.

In June, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said five “cancer-causing” substances were found in heat-not-burn electronic cigarettes sold in the local market. The ministry made the announcement after looking into IQOS, British American Tobacco’s Glo and South Korean leading cigarette maker KT&G Corp.’s lil to determine harmful substances from the smoke-free products.

The ministry said there is no reason to think that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization classifies certain substances belonging to group 1 as being carcinogenic to humans. Substances are placed in this category when there is clear evidence of being harmful to people.

The five group 1 carcinogens — benzopyrene, nitrosopyrrolidine, benzene, formaldehyde and nitrosamine ketone — were detected in all the products, according to the ministry.

Philip Morris Korea Inc., an affiliate of Philip Morris International, has so far sold more than 1.9 million units of IQOS since its launch last year and 1 million South Korean smokers are estimated to have switched to the smoke-free product.