Philip Morris Seeks FDA Approval For Alternative Cigarette

First Posted: Dec 08, 2016 05:38 AM EST
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Philip Morris International Inc. has finally asked for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval to sell its less harmful cigarette alternative.

Fox News reported that the company responsible for marketing Marlboro is seeking FDA's approval to market its iQOS device, which was created to be less dangerous to the smokers' health. The product reportedly heats rather than to burn tobacco to produce a vapor and contains 10 percent less harmful chemicals compared to a regular cigarette.

This will give Philip Morris Inc. an advantage in the U.S. market given the fact that cigarette smoking has declined in developed countries.

In a commentary posted on the website Vape Ranks, iQOS could only heat the tobacco up to 350 degrees Celsius, while tobacco cigarettes burn at around 800 degrees. This device has already been made available in other countries such as Japan and Italy.

"We are encouraged by the timeliness of PM's first FDA application submission," Wells Fargo analyst Bonnie Herzog wrote in a statement. "We continue to believe iQOS is a positive catalyst for both Philip Morris & Altria providing a unique competitive advantage."

This iQOS device will then be the first legitimate cigarette smoking alternative since electronic cigarette manufacturers are not allowed to make such claim concerning their products.

According to American Lung Association, e-cigarettes also contain nicotine, other edible chemicals that may not be advisable for inhalation and even poisonous substances that are dangerous for ingestion. There have been previous reports regarding the increase in poisoning cases due to accidental ingestion of e-cigarette liquids.

Aside from its harmful nicotine and chemical contents, there have been an increasing number of e-cigarette blasts as well. The electronic device's battery could potentially explode due to low quality and improper charging.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a decline in cigarette smoking in the U.S. According to statistics, smokers were reduced from about 21 in every 100 adults (20.9 percent) in 2005 to nearly 15 in every 100 adults (15.1 percent) in 2015.

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