We make significant investments in R&D to deliver innovations that satisfy or anticipate consumer preferences and generate growth for the business across all categories. The main focus of this investment is in our 'Next Generation Products' (NGPs), while we also conduct R&D into our conventional cigarette innovations.
Our R&D has undergone major changes in recent times, embracing new technology, methodologies and consumer trends.
We have an extensive scientific research programme in a broad spectrum of scientific fields including molecular biology, toxicology and chemistry.
We use a wide range of analytical techniques, specialised laboratory technology and expertise to test our products to ensure high standards of consumer safety and product quality.
We’ve also developed a framework of scientific tests to assess the reduced-risk potential of NGPs relative to smoking cigarettes. This includes testing everything from how consumers use a product and the content of the vapour it produces, to the biological impact of the vapour on cells in laboratory tests and, ultimately, the likely impact of the availability of that product on consumer health.
It’s our job to demonstrate the positive effects our research can have. We place real value on robust, evidence-based and independent scientific findings and we think our science should be judged on its merits.
There are several myths around tobacco and nicotine products that only science can help to dispel.
For example, it’s now widely acknowledged that it’s largely the toxicants in tobacco smoke which cause the majority of smoking-related disease – and not the nicotine in tobacco.
We are working to develop potentially reduced risk products and to secure the support of public health professionals and regulators as we bring them to market.
Tobacco companies, scientists and regulators need to work together to ensure a science-based approach to assessing new products that potentially pose less risk than conventional cigarettes. This will provide consumers with the assurance that the product information they receive is based on sound, evidence-based science and allow them to make an informed choice based on the risk profile of different products.
We will always be transparent about our science. This is central to our approach. We publish details of our scientific research and submit the results of our research to peer-reviewed scientific journals, irrespective of the findings. This involves an assessment by independent experts to determine whether it is of sufficient quality to be published. We also contribute to debates around tobacco harm reduction at conferences and in publications and reports.
All of our clinical studies are approved by the relevant independent ethics committees before initiation and the majority of our product testing is through independent scientific laboratories and research organisations.
