Oncologists Should Lead the Tobacco Harm Reduction Discourse

Nicotine Isn’t the Enemy: World Expert Corrects a Century of Misconception

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma A leading French oncologist has called on cancer specialists worldwide to take an active role in Tobacco Harm Reduction and help correct misconceptions about nicotine and its link to cancer. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Technovation Summit in Dubai, Professor David Khayat, an oncologist at Pierre et Marie University in Paris, said oncologists have a duty to promote science-based communication around smoking and nicotine use. We as oncologists have to trust science, and science says nicotine does not cause cancer, so let’s stick to…

Read More

PMI Strengthens Measures to Curb Youth Access to Smoke-Free Products

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Philip Morris International (PMI) says it is taking concrete steps to ensure its smoke-free products remain out of reach for minors, reaffirming its commitment to youth access prevention as global concerns around youth vaping grow. Speaking during the 2025 Technovation Summit in Dubai, Tomoko Iida, PMI’s Director of Scientific Engagement for South and Southeast Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and Africa, said the company’s smoke-free portfolio, which includes heated tobacco, e-vapour, and oral smokeless products, is designed exclusively for adult smokers. Youth…

Read More

PMI Chief Calls for Urgent Embrace of Smoke-Free Alternatives to Save Lives

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma in Dubai Despite years of anti-smoking campaigns and strict tobacco control measures, the global number of smokers remains stubbornly high. According to peer-reviewed data, about 75 percent of those who attempt to quit relapse within six months. This persistent challenge, experts say, underscores the need for alternative solutions such as smoke-free products. Speaking at the Technovation Summit in Dubai, Philip Morris International (PMI) Chief Executive Officer Jacek Olczak urged governments and regulators to support the adoption of smoke-free alternatives for smokers who cannot or will not…

Read More