Tobacco Documents Online

Idea Session on Beneficial Additives

Abstract

This confidential 1981 Philip Morris (PM) memo records ideas generated during a meeting to explore potentially beneficial cigarette additives. "Beneficial" was defined as"creating more profit (sales) to Philip Morris, creating a positive public image, being safe, good for you as well as pleasurable, [and/or] creating a favorable image with government agencies." Ideas floated included using smoke to deliver therapeutic agents like bronchodilators, appetite suppressants and pain killers. Another idea was to "incorporate an additive which causes the body to produce its own therapeutic agent. Thus, we could alleviate pain, increase sex drive, etc. without adding agents to do this but by adding a naturally occurring promoter." Another idea was to enhance the appetite suppressing properties of smoke. With regard to this idea, the memo states, "Care must be taken not to make specific claims or to invoke a "drug additive" image..." Still another idea was to use an additive to reduce the amount of tobacco needed to make the cigarette. Diatomaceous earth*, clay and ground corn cobs were suggested as possible additives that might accomplish this goal. Other ideas were to include additives that would reduce dental caries and constipation, regulate the heart rate, soothe colds and reduce anxiety.

This memo shows PM's cavalier attitude towards the use of cigarettes as drug delivery devices, and gives a general--if not chilling--idea of what constitutes product improvement from a cigarette company's standpoint.

The memo was drafted by William Farone, a former Philip Morris scientist who now testifies against the industry. The meeting was also attended by Victor DeNoble who worked in Philip Morris' behavioral research labs and who also now testifies against the industry.

Fields

Quotes

Two sessions were held on the subject of "beneficial additives." I served as moderator of the sessions and elements of a meeting conduct system known as Synectics were used...

I have attempted to combine all the information coming out of the two sessions into this report....I appreciate the cooperation and indulgence of all those who participated and observed.

STATEMENT of the PROBLEM

We started with the statement or problem of how to develop or establish a beneficial additive for a cigarette.

The first group provided an operational definition of "beneficial" that was used by both groups. Beneficial can be defined as

1. Creating more profit (sales) to Philip Morris, 2. Creating a positive public image, 3. Being safe, good for you and well as pleasurable, 4. Creating a favorable image with government agencies.

We agreed that we would consider additives in any of these categories but that additives which covered more than one (preferebly all!) category would be best.

Background

Each session briefly discussed the recent interest in additives due to the Surgeon General's report. There were no previously attempted solutions to this problem unlike other problems considered using this technique.

IDEAS...

1. The concept of a lifetime smoking device was advanced wherein our sales would come from selling additives that would "refill" the device. It could deliver flavors with no amoke and have the size, shape and feel of a cigarette.

2. Although it was recognized that Philip Morris does not want to get into the business of delivering therapeutic agents via smoke, it was also pointed out that some additives that could be useful might come close to this. For example, anethol, caffein, eugenol, vanilla and theobromine were mentioned. Additives could function as bronchial dilators, appetite suppressands, etc. Even salts were mentioned in the category such as Mg(OH)2 (to reduce stomach acid) and KCl (salt balance). It was also pointed out that where these occurred naturally in tobacco the beneficial aspects of their presence could be made known.

3. It was suggested that a tie-in of flavors with mood might have beneficial connotations. Thus, a flavor may lead to mood change because it is liked or has pleasant connotatios.

4. It was suggested that rather than deliver a physiological effect directly we might incorporate an additive which causes the body to produce its own physiologic agent. Thus, we could alleviate pain, increase sex druvem etc, without adding agents to do this but by adding a naturally occurring promoter. It was suggested that tobacco and tobacco smoke be screened for such compounds such that we merely enhance what is already there.

5. It was noted that one beneficial attribute ascribved to smoking is appetite suppressance. A thorough study of this effect and publication of the resuls may have a beneficial impact on the image of smoking. If particular compounds responsible for the effect in a cigarette could be found, it might be possible to enhance the effect in a cigarette aimed at people desiring help with weight control. Care must be taken not to make specific claims or to invoke a "drug additive" image...

6. An additive that made inhalation difficult or impossible while combining with other flavors to give satisfaction via tase and mouth feel might be considered beneficial under our criteria...

...17. In adding to idea number 5, other factors were thought of (in addition to appetite suppression) that could be screened for beneficial effects of smoking. The idea again is to ascribe the effect to an additive that is already naturally occurring in tobacco and then possibly manipulate that additive:

a) dental caries b) reduction in constipation c) heart rate regulation d) effect in colds (i.e. menthol brands) e) anxiety reduction.

It should be noted that some literature on dental caries exists...

Company

Philip Morris

Author

Farone, William Anthony, Ph.D. (PM Former Dir. of Applied Research, Anti-Tobacco Expert)

Hired to make safer products and to find business alternatives outside the tobacco industry for PM.

Recipient

Meyer, Leo F. (PM Research Director, scientist)

Defense

Seligman, Robert B. (PM VP of R&D c. 1976-82)

Vice President of Research and Development at Philip Morris Richmond, VA 1976-1982. Reported to Senior Vice President of Operations. In 1982 transferred to tobacco technology group. Wanted to share ammonia and other tobacco technology with PM International companies.

Region

United States

Litigation

Stmn/Produced

Named Person

Surgeon General

Type

MEMO, MEMORANDUM

REPT, OTHER REPORT

Subject

additives