Business Wire

Philip Morris International Announces Appointment of Two Former U.S. FDA Officials, Highlighting the Company’s Continued Commitment to Smoke-Free Product Science and Regulation

Share

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) announced today that it has appointed two former United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) officials to key positions to accelerate its science-based transformation.

Dr. Badrul Chowdhury is appointed PMI’s Chief Life Sciences Officer, Smoke-Free Products, succeeding Jorge Insuasty, who will complete his move into the recently created position of President, Vectura Fertin Pharma. After a short transition period, Badrul will join PMI’s Senior Management Team in January 2023, reporting to Jacek Olczak, Chief Executive Officer.

“I am delighted to welcome Badrul to PMI and look forward to working closely with him as he leads our talented team of scientific experts,” said Jacek Olczak. “He is an accomplished scientist and regulatory strategist, with decades of leadership experience, both in industry and as a regulator within the U.S. FDA’s Pulmonary Division. His wealth of knowledge and experience will be critical to help achieve our ambition of a smoke-free future. I also extend my sincere thanks to Jorge Insuasty for his contributions to the function as he moves to oversee Vectura Fertin Pharma full-time.”

Dr. Chowdhury joins PMI from a U.S.-based biotech company developing inhalation products for rare respiratory diseases, where he was Chief Medical Officer. Prior to that, he was AstraZeneca’s Senior Vice President and Chief Physician-Scientist for Respiratory Inflammation and Autoimmunity Late-Stage Development in Biopharmaceuticals R&D. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Chowdhury served as Director, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. FDA for almost 21 years, from 1997 to 2018, providing scientific and regulatory oversight of therapies for lung, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Chowdhury is a medical doctor and holds a PhD in immunology.

“Joining the PMI team is an exciting new adventure,” said Dr. Chowdhury. “The investment the company has already made in delivering high-quality science to support its transformation and smoke-free vision is unprecedented. I am thrilled to have the chance to help move the company forward faster and to truly seize the public health opportunity that well-regulated smoke-free products present. I look forward to working with the Senior Management Team and the entire Life Sciences function to accelerate progress.”

Dr. Matthew (“Matt”) Holman is appointed as PMI’s Vice President of U.S. Scientific Engagement and Regulatory Strategy, reporting to Deepak Mishra, President of PMI Americas.

“We are delighted that Matt will be joining PMI to further accelerate our journey toward a smoke-free future, particularly here in the United States,” said Deepak Mishra. “As we transform, we recognize the importance of bringing together diverse perspectives, including those of regulatory bodies and the scientific community. Matt’s solid scientific and stakeholder knowledge, combined with his passion for tobacco harm reduction, will be invaluable.”

Dr. Holman joins PMI from the U.S. FDA, where he served for more than 20 years, most recently as Director of the Office of Science at the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). At CTP, Holman was instrumental in building the FDA’s marketing application review programs. He served as CTP’s chief scientist, playing a significant role in guiding policy decisions, developing rulemaking and guidance documents, and overseeing a robust regulatory science research program for tobacco products. Previously, Holman worked at the FDA’s CDER on over-the-counter drug products, including as Deputy Director of the Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development. He received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Maryland at College Park.

“Having spent more than two decades working to improve public health as a regulator, I am delighted to join forces with PMI, a company that is firmly committed to the goal of accelerating the end of smoking,” said Dr. Holman. “PMI is leading the industry in a major transformation that can ultimately provide an unprecedented breakthrough for public health. I’m excited to make this move and join PMI on its smoke-free journey.”

The appointment of these seasoned scientific and regulatory experts complements the recent hiring of Keagan Lenihan, who joined PMI in May 2022 as Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Head of its D.C. office. Lenihan spent two decades working in government, corporate, and public policy, including as Associate Commissioner for External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives and then Chief of Staff at the U.S. FDA.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the U.S. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than USD 9 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate, and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the marketing of versions of PMI’s IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs), finding that exposure modification orders for these products are appropriate to promote the public health. As of June 30, 2022, excluding Russia and Ukraine, PMI’s smoke-free products were available for sale in 70 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 13.2 million adults around the world had already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, in February 2021 PMI announced its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and deliver innovative products and solutions that aim to address unmet consumer and patient needs. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com .

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Contact information

David Fraser
Philip Morris International
T. +41 (0)58 242 4500
E. david.fraser@pmi.com

About Business Wire

For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Access Advance Welcomes Global Technology Leaders as Licensees and Licensors to New Video Distribution Patent Pool2.7.2025 03:00:00 EEST | Press release

Access Advance LLC ("Advance") today announced the inaugural roster of licensees and licensors for its Video Distribution Patent ("VDP") Pool, marking a significant milestone in the program's rapid market adoption since its January announcement. The participation of major global companies heavily involved in video codec technology demonstrates strong industry support for the comprehensive licensing solution covering HEVC, VVC, VP9, and AV1 codecs. The VDP Pool has successfully attracted a group of licensees/licensors including ByteDance, Kuaishou, NTT Docomo, and Tencent. This represents the beginning of what Access Advance expects to be widespread adoption among content streaming providers seeking simplified codec licensing. The licensees’ participation provides immediate access to the wide-ranging patent portfolio while benefiting from the fixed tiered pricing structure designed to scale with business size. "We're pleased to welcome ByteDance, Kuaishou, NTT Docomo and Tencent as our

Intralot S.A. to Acquire Bally’s International Interactive Business in a Transaction that Creates a Global Gaming Technology and Services Company in Lottery and Digital Online Gaming Markets1.7.2025 22:10:00 EEST | Press release

Intralot S.A. (ATSE: INLOT) (“Intralot”) and Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) (“Bally’s”) today announced that their respective Boards of Directors approved their entry into a definitive transaction agreement (“Transaction Agreement”) pursuant to which Intralot will acquire Bally’s International Interactive business (the “International Interactive Business”) in a cash-and-shares transaction that values the International Interactive Business at an enterprise value of €2.7 billion (the “Transaction”). The consideration for the acquisition of the International Interactive Business will comprise a combination of cash paid by Intralot and newly issued shares delivered by Intralot to Bally’s, as more specifically detailed below. As part of the Transaction, Intralot expects to refinance part of its existing debt facilities and Bally’s also expects to repay secured debt from the cash proceeds. The Transaction consideration to Bally’s, after assumptions of certain liabilities by the involved pa

Valeo Foods Group Acquires Melegatti Cakes Expanding the Italian Bakery Portfolio1.7.2025 19:21:00 EEST | Press release

Valeo Foods Group, one of Europe’s leading producers of quality sweets, treats and snacks, has successfully acquired the assets of an Italian panettone, pandoro and croissant producer, Melegatti 1894 S.p.A.This acquisition is another step forward in Valeo Foods Groups’ strategy to expand its baked sweet treats portfolio, and reinforces Valeo’s commitment to bringing authentic Italian confections and established regional brands to a wider international audience. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702677156/en/ Melegatti Founded in 1894 in Verona, Melegatti has a strong reputation for artisanal cakes - particularly pandoro, panettone and filled croissants - traditional recipes, and a rich Italian heritage, Melegatti has a proud legacy founded on family values, craftsmanship, and a passion for quality. “We are excited to welcome Melegatti into the Valeo Foods Group,” said Ronald Kers, Group CEO. “This acquisition

PUMA and Borussia Dortmund Extend Partnership1.7.2025 19:18:00 EEST | Press release

Sports company PUMA has extended its long-standing partnership with Borussia Dortmund, and will continue to create products that cater to BVB’s many passionate fans around the world and match the club’s dynamic, fast paced style of football. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701775493/en/ Sports company PUMA has extended its long-standing partnership with Borussia Dortmund, and will continue to create products that cater to BVB’s many passionate fans around the world and match the club’s dynamic, fast paced style of football. Since the start of their partnership in the 2012/13 season, BVB has celebrated many successes, such as reaching the finals of the 2012/13 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League and winning the 2016/17 and 2020/21 German DFB Cup. The club is currently participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, where it has already reached the round of 16. BVB continues to set the standard in European football w

Gogo Galileo HDX Coming to Cessna Citation Jet Models1.7.2025 18:00:00 EEST | Press release

Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Gogo Galileo HDX will be available for aftermarket installation on Cessna Citation jets after Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) expected in late 2025. The global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) solution allows customers to enjoy one of the best possible in-flight connectivity and aviation experiences, no matter where their journey takes them. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701750049/en/ Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Gogo Galileo HDX will be available for aftermarket installation on Cessna Citation jets after Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) expected in late 2025. (Photo: Textron Aviation) By offering Gogo Galileo HDX as an aftermarket upgrade, the Textron Aviation support team is ensuring customers benefit from a g

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye