Monthly Archives: July 2022

Where are the Juul documents?

Perhaps the most important provision in the settlement between the State of North Carolina and Juul involved the release of previously secret internal Juul documents. These documents are particularly timely given the fact that Juul and the FDA are now fighting over FDA’s decision not to authorize the same of Juul e-cigarettes as well asContinue reading “Where are the Juul documents?”

FDA science leader Matt Holman leaves FDA for PMI

Matt Holman, who has served as head of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products since 2017, is leaving the FDA to take a job with Philip Morris International. According to a story in The Hill, a spokesperson for Philip Morris said Holman “is committed to helping existing adult smokers access scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives whileContinue reading “FDA science leader Matt Holman leaves FDA for PMI”

First epidemiological evidence linking e-cigs to cancer in people

E-cigarette advocates like to point out that because there is no combustion, e-cigarettes expose users to lower levels of many carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals).  Even so, there are still some carcinogens in e-cigarette aerosol exposure to e-cigarette aerosol damages DNA and reduces repair in animal and human cells and causes cancer in animals.  Now there isContinue reading “First epidemiological evidence linking e-cigs to cancer in people”

Here’s an approachable introduction to the growing collection of industry insider documents on opioids, free to all

Caleb Alexander, together with colleagues at Johns Hopkins, UCSF and I just published “The Opioid Industry Documents Archive: A Living Digital Repository” in American Journal of Public Health. This paper describes the growing Opioid Industry Documents Archive that is part of the UCSF Industry Documents Library and outlines opportunities for research and public education withContinue reading “Here’s an approachable introduction to the growing collection of industry insider documents on opioids, free to all”

Outside review of FDA CTP operations brings opportunities and risks

FDA Commissioner Rob Califf announced (Politico, Associated Press, New York Times) that he was asking the Regan-Udall Foundation to conduct a process review of the FDA’s tobacco and food centers. As someone who has been critical of the poor and incomplete scientific assessments FDA has completed of so-called “harm reduction” products — particularly e-cigarettes andContinue reading “Outside review of FDA CTP operations brings opportunities and risks”

Since FDA has made a mess of Juul, the health community & Congress should force FDA to ban menthol e-cigs now

The day after FDA denied Juul’s application to continue selling its e-cigarettes on June 23, 2022, Juul sued and obtained an emergency Stay from the US Court of Appeals.  On July 5, the FDA announced that it was issuing its own Administrative Stay and allowed Juul to remain on the market while the FDA considersContinue reading “Since FDA has made a mess of Juul, the health community & Congress should force FDA to ban menthol e-cigs now”