PMI appoints Matthew Holman as Vice President of Regulatory Strategy

Sep.20.2022
PMI appoints Matthew Holman as Vice President of Regulatory Strategy
Matthew Holman leaves FDA role to become PMI's US Science Engagement and Regulatory Strategy VP as the company seeks to promote safer nicotine alternatives.

Matthew Holman has left his position at the FDA to become the Vice President of Scientific Engagement and Regulatory Strategy for PMI in the United States.


Of course, considering the tobacco companies are currently facing strict regulations and public scrutiny, these appointments are crucial. Badrul Chowdhury, who has worked at the FDA for over 20 years, has accepted the position of Chief Life Sciences Officer, while Matthew Holman has been appointed as Vice President of Science Engagement and Regulatory Strategy for the tobacco company in the United States.


In recent years, Philip Morris International (PMI) has been making efforts to improve its image and reputation by turning towards the sale of safer nicotine alternatives. Former CEO Andre Catantzopoulos believed that a smokeless future is possible and that achieving a consensus with the government and society is necessary through proper supervision and regulation. He stated that alternative nicotine products can be a part of effective tobacco policy. "Thanks to rapid progress in science and technology, and PMI's firm commitment, these products have now become a reality," he said.


Although current CEO of PMI, Jacek Olczak, has stated that the tobacco company intends to achieve its goal of 50% smoke-free product sales by 2025, he also claims the company is fully capable of replacing cigarettes with safer alternatives. "We have a leading portfolio of traditional and smoke-free tobacco products, an excellent management team, and an agile, efficient, and quick-learning organization. We are fully capable of continuing to succeed in our vision of replacing cigarettes with better alternatives for the benefit of consumers, shareholders, and society," he stated earlier this year, quoted by The Edge.


PMI is working hard to change its image.


Last year, PMI received criticism from the British Asthma Association and British Lung Foundation for their collaboration with asthma inhaler manufacturer Vectura. This move appeared hypocritical, as the investment was in a product that could help treat tobacco-related diseases.


Meanwhile, Altria has recently reiterated its plan to enter the healthcare field, stating that this is a natural evolution for tobacco companies. "This is a natural evolution for PMI to further transform our business into a more holistic lifestyle, consumer health, and healthcare company in the future. This evolution is not only fulfilling our continued commitment to a smoke-free future but also fulfilling the development and commercialization of scientifically validated products and solutions to meet unmet consumer and patient needs.


The market for health and wellness products is vast and constantly expanding. We have several key areas of focus in our pipeline. For consumers and over-the-counter healthcare products, we have several initiatives focused on concentration, sleep, energy, pain relief, and calmness. In the healthcare field, we believe that patients' demand for fast and effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and neurological conditions such as migraines has yet to be met, and innovative solutions can meet these needs. We recently accelerated this part of our strategy through the acquisition of Vectura, an innovative inhalation delivery solution provider, and Fertin, a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative drugs and healthcare products based on oral and intraoral delivery systems," said Alzack.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended solely for industry exchange and learning purposes.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is solely for communication and research within the industry.


Due to limitations in translation abilities, the translated article may not fully express the original text, so please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government in regards to any statements or positions relating to domestic issues, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign affairs.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has begun selling four flavored Vuse Pro pods — Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint — in Ohio and selected other U.S. markets. According to the Vuse U.S. FAQ, Vuse Pro contains approximately 5.0% nicotine by weight, and Vuse Pro pre-filled pods are intended for use with Vuse Alto devices. Reynolds told 2Firsts that product labeling lists an e-liquid capacity of 2.0 mL per pod. The Vuse Alto Power Unit received FDA marketing authorization in 2024, while the new Vuse Pro pods themselves have not received marketing granted orders. The rollout follows the FDA’s May 2026 revision of enforcement priorities for certain unauthorized vaping products with qualifying pending applications.
BAT
Sep.10
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will take effect on October 1, 2026. All vaping liquids manufactured in or imported into the UK will face a flat excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml, whether or not they contain nicotine. Newly manufactured or imported products released onto the UK market from October 1 will require a valid duty stamp, while eligible existing unstamped inventory can continue to be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, all vaping products outside duty suspension must carry a valid stamp.
Sep.03
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on September 24. The government plans annual tax increases from 2027 through 2030 covering cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaping liquids and other categories. It expects the reform to generate €756 million in additional revenue in 2027, rising to €3.589 billion in additional annual revenue by 2030. Ahead of the parliamentary debate, the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, launched the "Tabaksteuer mit Augenmaß" campaign backed by BAT, JTI, Philip Morris, Reemtsma and wholesale and retail groups.
Sep.23
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
The Bombay High Court has ruled that airport duty-free shops are not exempt from India's domestic regulatory laws merely because they operate beyond the customs barrier, leaving in place a sales halt covering ZYN and FOX nicotine pouches at Mumbai's international airport. The court, however, did not determine that the products necessarily qualify as "drugs" under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The retailers have four weeks to submit product information to the appropriate authorities, including CDSCO, which must complete its review within 30 days of receiving the submissions.
Sep.24
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi Questions FDA Over Planned PMTA Rewrite, Seeks Communications With Altria and Reynolds
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi Questions FDA Over Planned PMTA Rewrite, Seeks Communications With Altria and Reynolds
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Oct. 6 questioned the FDA over its plan to reassess and potentially replace the 2021 PMTA regulatory framework, asking the agency to identify provisions it may change or eliminate, state whether current scientific evidentiary standards will be maintained, and disclose communications with Altria, Reynolds and other parties challenging the rule. Krishnamoorthi led a congressional investigation into JUUL and youth vaping in 2019 and has since remained active on e-cigarette regulation and enforcement.
Regulations
Oct.08
South Korea Extends Vape Rules to Unmanned Stores After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea Extends Vape Rules to Unmanned Stores After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law
South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on September 14 that it plans to designate unmanned e-cigarette stores as businesses where minors are prohibited from entering or working. Operators would be required to verify customers' ages and display notices restricting access by minors. The proposal is open for public comment through October 6. The move follows an April expansion of South Korea's statutory tobacco definition that brought products made with natural or synthetic nicotine under the Tobacco Business Act. Nicotine-free liquids and products using nicotine analogues such as 6-methylnicotine, however, remain an emerging regulatory issue.
Sep.21