Philip Morris International and KT&G will collaborate on regulatory submissions for KT&G heat-not-burn products in the United States. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding.
On Jan. 30, 2023, PMI obtained exclusive rights to commercialize KT&G’s smoke-free products outside South Korea.
KT&G’s new platform products are expected to be launched first outside the U.S. Thereafter, the partners plan to work on a premarket tobacco product application submission for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“We want every adult smoker who does not quit smoking to switch to a science-backed, better alternative for the benefit of their own and public health,” said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak in a statement.
“The heat-not-burn category, with different tiers of FDA-authorized products, has a pivotal role to play in making cigarettes obsolete in the U.S.”
KT&G “is currently pursuing global expansion and structural transformation centered on its three core businesses—next-generation products, overseas cigarettes, and health supplements,” said KT&G President Bang Kyung-man in a statement.
“We will do our utmost to achieve our future vision of becoming global top-tier by leveraging innovative NGP products and scientific R&D capabilities that will be introduced to overseas markets.”