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THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER 601 ELMWOOD AVENUE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14642 AREA CODE 716 SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY • SCHOOL OF NURSING DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Q October 29, 1987 ~ C,.0S ~ w% 1gg1 N~ Dr. T. S. Osdene Director of Science and Technology Philip Morris P.O. Box 26603 Richmond, VA 23261 Dear Tom: I spent October 26 at R.J. Reynolds where I presented a seminar and discussed my research on nicotine with a number of the investigators in biobehavioral research and toxicology. Presently, there are 60 people engaged in these areas of research of which 50% have either Ph.D. or Masters degree in such disciplines as toxicology, biochemistry, physiological psychology, and physical chemistry. Needless to say, they did not reveal the nature of research relating to tobacco products, human testing, and toxicology. They did, however, discuss certain aspects of their animal research which was either published orr cleared for publication. k-- P. Lippillo is a biochemical pharmacologist who is working on nicotine biniing to rA brain, examining mainly the kinetics and mechanisms involved in H-nicotine binding. He is also working with cultured neurons. James Walker, a psychologist, is conducting studies on the psychophysics of odor, evidently examining various substances in tobacco smoke. He has built an olfactometric device similar to the one Frank Gulotta has been using in his studies. In addition to studies with tobacco he is engaged in more basic research concerned with the relative importance of various nasal chemosensory systems in odor detection and discrimination and the functional consequences of chronic inhalation of various compounds. John Robinson and Riley Davis are both physiologic psychologists conducting biobehavioral studies in smokers. Among other parameters they are measuring auditory evoked potentials, very similar to what Frank had been doing. I suspect that they are examining the biobehavioral consequences of various flavorants, and nicotine-tar concentrations in tobacco. I did not have the opportunity to tour the toxicologic facility, which is a large component of the research effort. As I understand it, all of the research is devoted to tobacco constituents, examinig both their acute and chronic effects. Construction is being completed on a new research facility N to house largely the toxicology group. In addition, a new, large animal 0 facility has recently been completed. Presently they only use rats. N ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ N ~

Dr. T. S. Osdene October 29, 1987 Page 2 Although there are a number of analytic chemists at RJR there is evidently no one engaged in synthesizing nicotine analogues. They are measuring cotinine and nicotine levels in blood, but, as yet, have not been determining 3'-hydroxycotinine. Walter Hayes, who is Vice-President in charge of biobehavioral research, was absent during my visit. He is a well-known toxicologist. .` Laten Davis telephoned me last week to inform me he was recently hired by RJR as the new manager of agricultural research, beginning December 1. What impact this move may have on the THRI is uncertain. RJR is supporting research of a number of investigators at various academic institutions. One is Sam Deadwyler, at Bouman Gray Medical School, with whom I spent part of the day. He is an electrophysiologist investigating nicotine's action in various brain areas. Another investigator is Allan Collins, University of Colorado, who is engaged in receptor binding studies in various genetic strains of mice. A third is Donald Woodward, University of Texas at Dallas, who is also an electrophysiologist. Each receives $100,000-$150,000 annually from RJR. They meet once a year at RJR to discuss and coordinate their research on nicotine. I hope these comments will be of interest to you. Sincerely, Leo G. Abood, Professor LGA/lw N O N r ~ ~ ~ ae ~