Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 30, 2024 3 days, 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Research News: In a recent shocking revelation, Philip Morris International (PMI) and its Japanese affiliate, Philip Morris Japan (PMJ), have been found secretly funding Japanese researchers to manipulate studies in favor of tobacco products. This startling information was unveiled through a detailed analysis conducted by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at The University of Bath.
Philip Morris Secretly Funded Japanese Researchers to Promote Tobacco
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Uncovering the Secret Funding
The investigation into PMI and PMJ's clandestine activities involved scrutinizing 24 leaked documents dating from 2012 to 2020. These documents were made available through the University of California San Francisco's Truth Tobacco Archive. The key findings published in this
Research News report from TCRG's research indicate a well-orchestrated plan by PMI to influence public health policies and scientific research in Japan.
Hidden Financial Support
One of the most significant discoveries was that PMJ contracted CMIC, a third-party external research organization, to secretly fund a smoking cessation study conducted by Kyoto University academics. Remarkably, no public records of PMJ's involvement or funding in this study were found.
Additionally, PMJ paid ¥3,000,000 (approximately £20,000) per month to a life sciences consultancy named FTI-Innovations between 2014 and 2019. This consultancy, managed by a professor at Tokyo University, was tasked with networking with scientists and promoting PMI’s science and products at academic events. These activities were kept confidential both within and outside the company.
Manipulating Science and Policy
Dr. Sophie Braznell, one of the authors of the paper, stated, “Despite claiming to conduct transparent science, PMI has been covertly funding research and attempting to influence science and policy to create a favorable environment for its products. This contradicts PMI’s supposed transformation efforts and raises serious concerns about the company’s research ethics.”
Louis Laurence, another author of the paper, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by the tobacco industry's tactics, saying, "The tobacco industry's tactics still endanger our health, showing we urgently need to clean up science from their unhealthy grip."
A History of Misconduct
PMI's manipulation of scientific research is not a new phenomenon. The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW), which claims independence, is entirely funded by PMI and consistently publishes research favorable to the company. Investigations by journalists and academic reviews have highlighted serious concerns about the quality and ethical standing of PMI’s clinical research.
In 2022, a review by TCRG found PMI’s clinical trials on its heated tobacco products to be at high risk o
f bias and poor quality. A 2020 report detailed PMI’s relentless lobbying, PR campaigns, and multifaceted approaches to influence science and public health.
Impact on Public Health
Dr. Braznell further explained the negative impact of PMI's practices, “PMI continues to prioritize maximizing profits rather than improving public health. The manipulation of science for profit harms us all, especially policymakers and consumers trying to make potentially life-changing decisions.”
The TCRG study utilized the Science for Profit Model, developed by TCRG researcher Dr. Tess Legg, to analyze the leaked documents. Dr. Legg pointed out, "The tobacco industry’s influence on science undermines the credibility of research and threatens public health. It is imperative that we take decisive action to protect the integrity of scientific inquiry from vested interests."
Impact On Credibility of Japanese Studies/Research and Japanese Scientists.
The revelations about the corrupted and unethical nature of the certain Japanese scientists from a variety of institutions including Kyoto University, involved in generating manipulated studies and findings to suit the narratives of Philip Morris has seriously impacted the credibility of any published studies originating from Japan and the reputation of Japanese scientists. It is not known if the Japanese government or the Japanese scientific community has done anything to rectify these issue including seriously discipling the Japanese scientists involved.
Global Implications and the Need for Reform
These findings have significant implications for public health and scientific integrity. Japan, being a key market for PMI and a launch market for its heated tobacco product IQOS, is particularly affected. The credibility of scientific research and the true public health impacts of PMI's products are now under serious doubt.
PMI's activities underscore the urgent need for reform in how tobacco-related science is funded and conducted. Implementing funding models that ensure transparency and independence from tobacco industry influence is crucial.
Conclusion
The recent revelations about PMI and PMJ’s covert funding and manipulation of scientific research in Japan highlight the tobacco industry's ongoing unethical practices. Despite claims of conducting transparent science, PMI’s actions reveal a different reality aimed at maximizing profits at the expense of public health.
There is a pressing need for reforms to protect the integrity of scientific research from corporate interests. Policymakers, researchers, and the public must remain vigilant against the tobacco industry's tactics and strive for a future where scientific inquiry is truly independent and unbiased.
The study findings and concerning revelations were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntae101/7699729
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