An adverse event is any health-related event associated with the use of a product in humans that is adverse or unfavorable, whether or not it is considered product related.
Source: adapted from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2012 draft guidance for Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) applications and applies to all smoke-free products PMI markets.
An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles and/or liquid droplets in a gas, usually air. Although smoke is an aerosol, not all aerosols are smoke. For example, cigarettes produce a smoke created by burning tobacco that contains carbon-based solid particles, while PMI’s smoke-free products, such as heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, do not produce smoke because they do not burn tobacco. Instead, they generate a nicotine-containing aerosol, either by heating tobacco or using other technologies that do not involve combustion. Consumers typically use the term “vapor” to refer to the aerosol produced from heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes.
A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissue that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, condition, or disease. Some biomarkers may be biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) or biomarkers of exposure (BoE). Read more about the effects of switching to a heat-not-burn tobacco product on biomarkers in our publication.
Biomarkers of exposure (BoE) indicate exposure to a potentially hazardous substance. In our case, the biomarker may be a cigarette smoke constituent or metabolite that is measured in a biological fluid or tissue. Biomarkers of exposure can provide a measure of internal dose, which is the amount of a constituent taken up into the body. Read more in our literature review on reduced exposure to harmful chemicals after switching to Tobacco Heating System.
Biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) are measurable changes in the body’s biochemical, physiological (organ, tissue, cell), or behavioral functions within an organism that are known to be associated with a health impairment or disease. These biomarkers indicate the body’s response to exposure to harmful chemicals. Although BoPH are not necessarily the cause of these health problems, their presence and magnitude help determine whether a person already has a pre-existing health problem or disease or is at risk of developing one. Read more in our Exposure Responce Study (ERS) literature review.
BLENDS are specially designed tobacco sticks, also known as heated tobacco units (HTUs), that are intended for use with the Oven Heating System (OHS). Specially designed for heating and not smoking, the HTU contains a tobacco plug made from tobacco leaves cut into small pieces.
BONDS by IQOS, also known as the Oven Heating System (OHS), is the recent addition to our heated tobacco product (HTP) portfolio. The OHS uses resistive external heating, with no blade, via the ROUNDHEAT TOBACCO SYSTEM™, to heat the tobacco across the external surface of the tobacco stick instead of burning it like a cigarette does.
Unlike other products in our portfolio, the Carbon Heated Tobacco Product (CHTP) does not rely on electronics. It is the carbon tip that is lit to produce heat. In the carbon tip, oxygen reacts with the carbon in the combustion process. However, the tobacco itself does not burn, which is what makes it a heated tobacco product. As a result of the feedback from a consumer test in the last quarter of 2021, the design of the current CHTP technology has been discontinued. Learn more from our publication:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and are the leading cause of death worldwide. CVD includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other diseases. Smoking tobacco is a major behavioral risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Learn more from our publication:
The Ceramic Vaping System (CVS), commercialized as VEEV ONE, represents our latest e-vapor technology. Instead of the classic wick and coil technology, the heating technology utilized in the CVS relies on a heater containing a microporous ceramic substrate with a printed metallic heating track.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that results in airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tobacco smoking is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD. Exposure to air pollutants at home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role. Learn more:
Combustion is the process of burning a substance in oxygen, producing heat and often light. A self-sustaining reaction occurs when a fuel source reacts with oxygen, producing heat, light, and various combustion byproducts, including smoke and harmful chemicals. In the case of cigarettes, the high heat associated with combustion leads to the thermal breakdown of the tobacco when it is burned, resulting in the production of the high number and levels of the toxicants found in cigarette smoke.
The Disposable Vaping System (DVS), commercialized as VEEV NOW, is an e-vapor device. It relies on classic wick and coil technology and requires no charging, no cleaning, and no refilling.
E-cigarettes, also called electronic cigarettes or e-vapes, are a part of the smoke-free category of inhalable products that do not contain tobacco. These battery-powered devices heat a liquid (e-liquid or vape juice) that might contain nicotine and/or flavorings. E-cigarettes do not involve combustion and do not produce smoke. Vaping is the term typically used to describe inhaling an aerosol from an e-cigarette. Learn more about our e-vapor products.
E-liquid refers to a liquid solution typically used in e-vapor products such as e-cigarettes. E-liquids typically contain different levels of nicotine, flavors, glycerin and/or propylene glycol. The e-cigarette heats the e-liquid to produce an aerosol that the user inhales.
Exposure to a chemical describes how much of a chemical comes into contact with a human, laboratory animal, or cell culture so that it might be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed and how often and for how long that does happen. Exposure of humans to chemicals is important to understand because it may have an influence on human health. Learn more about the reduced exposure to harmful chemicals after switching to the Tobacco Heating System.
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is a set of internationally recognized ethical and scientific standards that provide guidelines for the design, conduct, monitoring, recording, and reporting of clinical studies involving human participants. The primary objective of GCP is to ensure the safety and well-being of study subjects and to generate reliable and valid data for regulatory authorities to assess the efficacy and safety of investigational products accurately.
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a set of quality management principles and practices that are intended to ensure the consistency, reliability, and integrity of nonclinical laboratory studies conducted to support research and regulatory submissions. GLP guidelines provide a framework for the planning, performance, monitoring, recording, reporting, and archiving of laboratory studies involving test items, such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food additives, and medical devices.
Good Pharmacovigilance Practice (GVP) is a set of guidelines and principles that govern the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems associated with pharmaceutical products. Pharmacovigilance is a crucial aspect of drug safety. GVP provides a framework for pharmaceutical companies, regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to ensure the safe use of medications and the ongoing monitoring of their safety profiles throughout their lifecycle.
Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) is the term used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. HPHCs are substances found in tobacco products and tobacco smoke that have been identified as having adverse health effects. These constituents are of significant concern to public health because they contribute to the harmful effects associated with tobacco use, including smoking-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions. Read more about the FDA-93 and PMI-58 lists of HPHCs.
Heated tobacco products (HTPs), also known as heat-not-burn products, are a category of smoke-free products that work by heating tobacco to a temperature below the point of combustion. Unlike cigarettes, which burn tobacco to produce smoke, HTPs use electronic devices to heat the tobacco, releasing a flavored nicotine-containing aerosol that is inhaled by the user. These products are designed to provide a similar experience to a cigarette, but their aerosols potentially contain reduced levels of harmful chemicals compared with those in the smoke of cigarettes. Whether the emissions are actually reduced needs to be scientifically evaluated for each product.
Heated tobacco units (HTUs) are designed to be used together with a tobacco heating device to release a nicotine-containing aerosol for the user to inhale, but without burning the tobacco like a cigarette would do. HTUs are composed of tobacco blends along with glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavorings. Learn more about our heated tobacco products.
HEETS, also known as HeatSticks in some markets, is a specially designed heated tobacco unit that is intended for use with our Tobacco Heating System 2.2 (THS 2.2). The consumer inserts a HEETS tobacco stick into a THS holder, where it is heated. HEETS tobacco sticks consist of components such as a tobacco plug, hollow acetate tube, polymer-film filter, cellulose-acetate mouthpiece filter, and outer and mouth end papers.
Indoor air quality, or IAQ, is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. Air quality is known to affect the health, comfort, and well-being of building occupants. Learn more how we assess indoor air quality of our smoke-free products.
Investigator Initiated Studies (IIS) are research studies that are initiated, designed, and conducted by independent researchers, often with the purpose of investigating specific scientific questions, hypotheses, or medical interventions.
IQOS ILUMA is the brand name for our Tobacco Heating System 3.0 (THS 3.0), which uses induction heating to heat the tobacco inside the heated tobacco unit instead of burning it. Despite the change in original heating technology compared to the previous THS 2.2 version, the aerosol generated by our induction heating device remains comparable to the previous versions of THS.
IQOS ORIGINALS is the brand name for our Tobacco Heating System 2.2 (THS 2.2), which uses blade technology to heat the tobacco inside the heated tobacco unit instead of burning it.
MESH Vaping System (MVS), commercialized as IQOS VEEV, is one of the vaping systems we have developed. In the MESH technology, the wick is eliminated, and the coil is replaced by a metal mesh with tiny holes to heat the e-liquid in a pre-filled and sealed pod. When the liquid is introduced to the mesh heater, the increased surface area provided by the mesh material helps heat the liquid in a more consistent way than current generation coil and wick systems. The MVS product is currently being replaced by the Ceramic Vaping System (CVS) in our product portfolio.
Modified risk tobacco product, or MRTP, is the term defined under section 911 of the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. A novel tobacco product can obtain an MRTP authorization if the applicant successfully demonstrates to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the product will or is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole.
In genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that alters the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism, thereby increasing the frequency of mutations above the natural background levels.
Nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical in the tobacco plant. Nicotine is one of the reasons why people smoke cigarettes together with taste, ritual, and sensorial experience. Nicotine is addictive and not risk free. However, it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.
Our oral nicotine pouches are smoke-free products that, by design, do not contain tobacco leaves and create no aerosol or smoke at all. Instead, they contain nicotine combined with binders/fillers, pH adjusters, stabilizers, and flavors, all packed in pouches made of cellulose.
Nicotine Salts Product (NSP) is an electronics-free product that mechanically produces a nicotine-containing aerosol without tobacco, combustion, or heating. It is composed of two parts: a consumable that contains a highly soluble encapsulated nicotine powder, and a non-electronic device that activates it. This product is currently not being marketed.
"Omics" is a summary term in biology that describes a research area focused on the collective characterization and quantification of pools of biological molecules. The term comes from the Greek word "οmοs", which means "whole". Omics disciplines typically use high-throughput technologies to measure large numbers of molecules simultaneously, providing a holistic view of the biological system. These methods include genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, transcriptomics, or metabolomics. Learn more from our publications:
Commercialized as BONDS by IQOS, our Oven Heating System (OHS) is the recent addition to our heated tobacco product (HTP) portfolio. The OHS uses resistive external heating, with no blade, via the ROUNDHEAT TOBACCO SYSTEM™, to heat the tobacco across the external surface of the tobacco stick instead of burning it like a cigarette does.
Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs. It is concerned with how drugs interact with the body and how they produce their effects. Read more about nicotine uptake.
Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates drugs. It is a branch of pharmacology that studies course of drug action in the body over a period of time. Read more:
The Population Health Impact Model (PHIM) developed by PMI aims to estimate the potential population-level health impact of the introduction of smoke-free products. This epidemiological model is a mathematical simulation that is based on publicly available data and intended to estimate the epidemiological risk associated with each choice an individual can make (such as never smoking, smoking, quitting, switching, etc.), taking into account age, gender, and social status. By multiplying each risk by its prevalence among the population, the model estimates the potential impact on mortality and provides an estimate how many years of life may be saved by the introduction of the smoke-free product as compared to not introducing that product.
Post-market safety surveillance is part of our comprehensive approach to regulatory compliance and responsible commercialization of our smoke-free products. We monitor the safety profile of smoke-free products post-market to detect and address any potential new or different health risks associated with product use.
Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) is an application that must be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) before a new tobacco product can be legally marketed in the United States.
Reduced-Risk Products (RRPs) is the term we use to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continuing smoking. PMI has a range of RRPs in various stages of development, scientific assessment, and commercialization.
Smoke-free products are products that deliver nicotine without burning tobacco; they have the potential to present less risk of harm compared with continued smoking. Smoke-free products are not risk free, and they contain nicotine, which is addictive. Our portfolio of smoke-free products is designed for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.
Smoking-related diseases are diseases that are caused or exacerbated by smoking cigarettes. Examples of smoking-related diseases include lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. Learn about how scientifically substantiated smoke-free products can positively contribute to public health.
Within our portfolio of smoke-free products, we offer oral tobacco pouches developed in Sweden known as snus. Modern Swedish snus contains air-dried ground tobacco, water, salt, flavoring, and taste additives.
Standard reference cigarettes such as the 2R4F, 3R4F, and 1R6F reference cigarettes, are provided by the University of Kentucky for laboratory testing. A standard reference cigarette is used as a consistent and uniform test item for nonclinical investigations by tobacco manufacturers, contract and government laboratories, and academic institutions.
TEREA SMARTCORE STICK™ is a specially designed heated tobacco unit that is intended for use with the IQOS ILUMA holder, one of our Tobacco Heating Systems (THS 3.0). Learn more about the manufacturing of tobacco sticks.
Tobacco is a green, leafy plant from the Solanaceae family, commonly known as nightshade. Tobacco typically grows in warm climates and is the core component of many of our smoke-free products. There are three different types of tobacco: Virginia, Burley, and Oriental. It is either harvested leaf-by-leaf (Virginia and Oriental), or by the whole plant, and needs to be processed for further use. Read an excerpt from our Scientific Update: Nicotine: from plants to people.
Tobacco Harm Reduction is an approach that embraces the innovation which has led to the development of scientifically substantiated smoke-free products that have the potential to present less risk of harm than cigarettes for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke.
Tobacco Harm Reduction does not intend to replace already existing tobacco control measures (such as prevention and the encouragement of cessation) but aims to complement such measures by making scientifically substantiated smoke-free products available for those adult smokers who do not quit or who otherwise would continue to smoke cigarettes.
Tobacco Heating System (THS) is a type of heated tobacco product (HTP) that heats tobacco instead of burning it. By the elimination of burning, the aerosol created contains comparable to cigarettes level of nicotine but significantly fewer and lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals that are created when tobacco is burned. There are various types of THS devices according to the heating technology used.
United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) is the government agency responsible for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of various consumer products. Within the FDA, the Center for Tobacco Products is responsible for regulating the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products.
Vaping typically describes the use of an e-cigarette, which produces an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer. Learn what is the
difference among heated tobacco products, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes.
VEEV NOW is the name of our Disposable Vaping System (DVS) which relies on classic wick and coil technology and vaporizes a nicotine-containing liquid to create an inhalable aerosol.
VEEV ONE is the name of our Ceramic Vaping System (CVS) which vaporizes a nicotine-containing liquid to create an inhalable aerosol. Instead of classic wick and coil technology, the heating technology utilized in the CVS relies on a heater containing a microporous ceramic substrate with a printed metallic heating track.
PMIScience.com is operated by Philip Morris International for the purpose of publishing and disseminating scientific information about Philip Morris International’s efforts in support of its smoke-free product portfolio. This site is a global site for use by scientists, the public health and regulatory communities, and other stakeholders with an interest in tobacco policy. The purpose of this site is not advertising or marketing, nor is it directed at any specific market. It is not intended for use by consumers. New tobacco products sold in the United States are subject to FDA regulation; therefore the content of this site is not intended to make, and nor should it be construed as making, any product related claims in the United States without proper FDA authorization.
Reduced Risk Products ("RRPs”) is the term we use to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continuing smoking. PMI has a range of RRPs in various stages of development, scientific assessment and commercialization. All of our RRPs are smoke-free products that deliver nicotine with far lower quantities of harmful and potentially harmful constituents than found in cigarette smoke.