CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Philip Morris international’s influence on science on plain packaging of cigarettes: A contemporary case study
1
Tobacco Control Research Group, Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
2
Centre for 21st Century Public Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
3
Transparency and Truth initiative, OxySuisse, Lausanne, Switzerland
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A61
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
For decades, the tobacco industry has used science to fight regulation. Despite this, it is rarely possible to interrogate whether and how it influences scientific processes, since these typically occur behind closed doors. In 2023, however, a research contract was retrieved which reveals how, in 2013, Philip Morris International (PMI) funded academics in Switzerland and Germany to evaluate Australia’s 2011 plain packaging legislation. This contract is part of a dataset of 320 documents related to PMI’s funding of these academics, collected prospectively over ten years (2014-2024).
METHODS:
We conducted a document analysis of this dataset to investigate whether, and if so, how, activities carried out by PMI and its allies mirrored strategies previously used by corporations to influence science. We used an evidence-based typology of corporate influence on science, the Science for Profit Model, as an analytic framework.
RESULTS:
We found PMI and its allies: orchestrated research on plain packaging which aligned with the industry’s interests, misrepresented the findings to oppose plain packaging; and sought to influence criteria for determining scientific proof in legal settings.
CONCLUSIONS:
We conclude that: safeguards against tobacco industry influence on science are not yet sufficient, widespread university-level policies and education are needed, but ultimately, reform to science funding mechanisms is needed to ensure science functions in the public interest.
For decades, the tobacco industry has used science to fight regulation. Despite this, it is rarely possible to interrogate whether and how it influences scientific processes, since these typically occur behind closed doors. In 2023, however, a research contract was retrieved which reveals how, in 2013, Philip Morris International (PMI) funded academics in Switzerland and Germany to evaluate Australia’s 2011 plain packaging legislation. This contract is part of a dataset of 320 documents related to PMI’s funding of these academics, collected prospectively over ten years (2014-2024).
METHODS:
We conducted a document analysis of this dataset to investigate whether, and if so, how, activities carried out by PMI and its allies mirrored strategies previously used by corporations to influence science. We used an evidence-based typology of corporate influence on science, the Science for Profit Model, as an analytic framework.
RESULTS:
We found PMI and its allies: orchestrated research on plain packaging which aligned with the industry’s interests, misrepresented the findings to oppose plain packaging; and sought to influence criteria for determining scientific proof in legal settings.
CONCLUSIONS:
We conclude that: safeguards against tobacco industry influence on science are not yet sufficient, widespread university-level policies and education are needed, but ultimately, reform to science funding mechanisms is needed to ensure science functions in the public interest.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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