Synopsis of 2001 Developmental Forum

Tobacco and cigarette-like products (Potential Reduced Exposure Products [PREPs]), introduced and marketed, are said to reduce the release of some toxicants. However, it is anticipated that a completely safe cigarette will never be produced. In fact, as the Institute of Medicine (IOM) states in its recent report, titled " Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction" , education focused on abstinence-oriented prevention and treatment must be intensified.

Unfortunately, prevention and cessation strategies have not reached millions of cigarette smokers who remain dependent on nicotine, including persons who are economically disadvantaged and medically underserved. Therefore, it is essential to develop a less harmful cigarette, as one way of demonstrating concern for people who are still smoking or who will smoke in the future. Cooperation between the public health, scientific, and tobacco control communities and the tobacco industry is prerequisite to insure that the expertise that has been developed related to tobacco science will be utilized in developing less harmful tobacco products.

However, before collaboration between the public health, academic/research, and tobacco control communities and the tobacco industry is possible, a fundamental set of questions must be addressed:

(Fundamentally)

Is it possible for the tobacco industry to collaborate with universities, government agencies and independent research organizations that is viewed as meaningful by all, including the public health, academic/research, and tobacco control communities?

(If so)

What are the mechanisms and protocols that need to be in place to ensure that the results of collaboration can be viewed as meaningful?

(If mechanisms and protocols are in place)

How can the results of the collaboration, including industry-funded research, be viewed as credible?

(And, if credibility can be achieved)

What is a reasonable direction and agenda for present and future tobacco science and health policy, especially in areas in which collaborative research can yield maximum results?

The Forum, held on October 2-3, 2001 at the Renaissance Hotel-Airport in St. Louis, MO addressed these fundamental questions. Major outcomes of the forum were to: 1) determine ways in which the tobacco industry should fund research, both internal and external; 2) develop criteria that give major constituencies outside the tobacco industry equanimity vis-à-vis industry-funded internal and external research; 3) provide an opportunity for major industry-related constituencies and the industry itself to dialogue and to seek some level of agreement on key issues related to tobacco science; and, 4) develop a rationale and the beginnings of a direction and possibly of an agenda for present and future tobacco science and health policy, especially in areas in which collaborative research can yield maximum results.

Support for this conference provided by:

• Brown & Williamson Tobacco

Forum Transcript

To download a transcript of the Forum Proceedings (available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) please click here