Philip Morris Products SA Invalidates Patent in Court Victory

Jul.03.2022
Philip Morris Products successfully invalidated a patent claim over e-cigarette design by Renovo Tobacco, following litigation.

Philip Morris Products SA, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International Inc., has succeeded in convincing an administrative court that one of Reynolds Tobacco's patents covering the design of vapor electronic cigarettes is partially invalid. In 2020, Reynolds Tobacco and RJ Reynolds Vapor Co. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Philip Morris International, claiming six patents, including the invalidated patent at issue.

 

On Thursday, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board stated that two claims in the U.S. Patent No. 9,814,268 are invalid. The patent pertains to an electronic smoking device containing tobacco that is designed to burn a small amount.

 

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Altria Showcases Ploom, Marlboro Heated Tobacco Sticks and Non-Nicotine Energy Products at NACS Show 2026
Altria Showcases Ploom, Marlboro Heated Tobacco Sticks and Non-Nicotine Energy Products at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show, Altria displayed Ploom devices alongside imagery of Marlboro-branded heated tobacco sticks, while also featuring RIOT Energy and Proper Wild non-nicotine products. The booth showcased on! PLUS nicotine pouches, including 12 mg variants not listed among FDA-authorized products as of October 9, and NJOY e-cigarettes. Altria also presented convenience-store traffic figures highlighting its retail presence. 2Firsts examines the company's expanded product portfolio, non-nicotine business activities and the regulatory status of products displayed at the show.
EXPO
Oct.10
DATA|UK Retail Research Group IGD Says Convenience Tobacco and Vape Sales Fell 10.6%, With 15.4% Market Share Versus Alcohol's 15.1%; Top Rank at Risk in 2027
DATA|UK Retail Research Group IGD Says Convenience Tobacco and Vape Sales Fell 10.6%, With 15.4% Market Share Versus Alcohol's 15.1%; Top Rank at Risk in 2027
Combined tobacco and vaping sales in UK convenience stores fell 10.6% year over year in the first half of 2026, making the category a major drag on channel performance, according to retail research organization IGD. Total convenience sales declined 1.2%, while sales excluding tobacco and vaping increased 0.7%. IGD's 2026 category-share figures show tobacco and vaping accounting for 15.4% of convenience sales, compared with 15.1% for alcohol. The organization forecasts alcohol could overtake tobacco and vaping as the largest category by sales value as early as 2027 if current trends continue. IGD expects the convenience market to increase from £48.6 billion in 2026 to £54.9 billion in 2031, a 2.5% compound annual growth rate, or 3.4% excluding tobacco and vaping.
DATA
Nov.11
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she is not considering loosening retail restrictions on nicotine pouches. Canada regulates pouches containing 4 mg or less of nicotine per unit as non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy and requires newer NRT formats such as pouches to be sold from behind pharmacy counters. Meanwhile, Unsmoke Canada, linked to Philip Morris International's Canadian business, is pushing to allow pouches in convenience stores and other general retail outlets. Health Canada also acknowledges continued unauthorized sales, while recent research shows rising pouch use among Canadian youth aged 16 to 19.
Sep.24
FDA Authorizes 24 VELO Nicotine Pouches, Increasing U.S. Authorized Total by 56%
FDA Authorizes 24 VELO Nicotine Pouches, Increasing U.S. Authorized Total by 56%
The U.S. FDA authorized 24 VELO nicotine pouch products from a British American Tobacco subsidiary, raising the total number of authorized products from 43 to 67, a 55.8% increase. The newly authorized 4 mg products include lime and passion fruit flavors and feature certified child-resistant packaging. VELO's first FDA marketing authorization adds BAT to a list previously limited to PMI and Altria products, while bringing the agency's nicotine pouch review pilot total to 47 authorized products.
Oct.30
Sweden Finds ZYN Ingredient Labels Noncompliant Over Generic Flavoring Disclosure, Swedish Match Faces SEK 2 Million Monthly Penalty
Sweden Finds ZYN Ingredient Labels Noncompliant Over Generic Flavoring Disclosure, Swedish Match Faces SEK 2 Million Monthly Penalty
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PMI
Oct.22
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
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Philip Morris International has published its first report aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, bringing its electronics supply chain and the use and end-of-life stages of smoke-free devices and consumables into its nature-related assessment. PMI said its smoke-free business accounted for about 42% of total net revenues in the second quarter of 2026. The report says non-circular electronic products, particularly single-use items, can increase consumption of limited natural resources and also details an IQOS repair pilot. A 2040 circularity scenario tests assumptions including a 50% reduction in product waste-related costs, 10% raw-material savings and a 25% substitution rate for refurbished products versus new products.
Sep.23