Special report: Tobacco giant Philip Morris is investing billions in health care

Philip Morris, best known for its tobacco products, has been taking over health care companies, an unlikely pivot. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Tobacco giant Philip Morris is investing billions in health care. Critics say it's peddling cures for its own poison By Olivia Goldhill Mike Reddy for STAT As cigarette sales decline and Philip Morris stares down projections of plummeting revenue streams, the company has been investing in health care instead. Critics say the effort is insincere. “They’re producing the poison and selling the cure to you later on,” said Sven-Eric Jordt, a psychiatry professor at the Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science. “That’s heartbreaking.” Read More Sponsor content by STAT Events This fall, join STAT live in DC Learn from the researchers, patient advocates, and lawmakers driving the next breakthroughs in rare disease research this September 15. Stay once the conversation is complete for a networking and cocktail hour. Purchase your ticket now (or unlock a free pass as a STAT+ subscriber). More great reads from STAT this week Push to double up on Covid booster and flu shot may have a downside, experts caution By Helen Branswell Advocates wanted Juul’s big settlement to overhaul the e-cigarette landscape. It likely won’t, experts warn By Nicholas Florko Fentanyl test strips could help save lives. In many states, they’re still illegal By Lev Facher As masks are shed, a routine visit to a medical office can pose Covid risks for some patients By Megan Molteni Opinion: Dying of a disease I never knew existed By Richard B. Woodward What happens to patients when telehealth businesses shutter? By Mohana Ravindranath Opinion: The FDA needs to be more flexible in assessing treatments for rare diseases, like the one that seemed to help my son By Karen Quandt How a tool to map computer viruses came to power biology research By Edward Chen Saturday, September 10, 2022       1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109 ©2022, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Email Preferences | Contact Us | View In Browser