Altria Science @AltriaScience

Many public health experts aim to minimize the risks of tobacco use, recognizing that not everyone can or will quit smoking. In fact, most of the 30 million U.S. adults who smoke want to stop — but only half try, and just 10% succeed. That’s where smoke-free products come in. Our research shows that nearly half of the 30 million adults who smoke are interested in smoke-free products. Because no single product category can meet the needs of all adult smokers a regulated portfolio of smoke-free alternatives is vital to support successful switching and improve public health outcomes. At Altria, we are focused on offering a portfolio of satisfying smoke-free products across four smoke-free categories: e-vapor, modern oral nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. Choice drives harm reduction by empowering adults who smoke to find a smoke-free product that works for them to move beyond smoking. Learn more at ow.ly/KQcZ50ZiOHr. #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking

Harm reduction doesn’t happen on paper—it happens through behavior. Actual Use Studies help us understand what actually changes. Actual Use Studies (AUS) evaluate how consumers use a new tobacco product when given access in real-world or near-real-world settings. Rather than relying on intentions or controlled conditions, these studies allow adults who use tobacco products to use the product freely over time while tracking behaviors such as frequency of use, switching, dual use, and changes in consumption—providing a realistic view of how the product is likely to be used in practice. In FDA applications (e.g., PMTA or MRTPA), AUS provides critical behavioral evidence to support a determination that a product is appropriate for the protection of public health. They help demonstrate whether adults who use tobacco products are likely to switch from higher-risk products or reduce use, while also identifying potential unintended behaviors. This real-world use data informs the population-level assessment of risks and benefits, supporting conclusions about whether a product is likely to deliver a net public health benefit. #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking

Understanding how adults who smoke make decisions is an important part of improving public health outcomes. Many adults who smoke are seeking satisfying smoke-free alternatives. Whether they switch often depends on access to products offered in a variety of flavors and strengths. When those options are limited or unavailable in the regulated market, consumer demand does not disappear. It shifts outside the regulated system. Recognizing how consumer demand, product access, and switching behavior are connected can help inform more effective approaches that support harm reduction for adults who smoke while maintaining a strong focus on underage use prevention. Learn more at: ow.ly/RLcZ50Z9JkK #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

To advance harm reduction for adults who smoke, Altria’s multidisciplinary team of scientists are generating the science and evidence to bring satisfying, smoke-free products to the market. From toxicologists to behavioral scientists, clinicians to regulatory experts, Altria Science teams apply our rigorous scientific framework to evaluate smoke-free products assessing impact from individual health risk to population-level outcomes. This science and evidence are submitted to the FDA to demonstrate that our smoke-free products are “appropriate for the protection of public health”. At Altria Science, our strength lies in the collective knowledge and expertise of our teams to put forward high-quality science and evidence for FDA review, which to date has resulted in 20 Marketing Granted Orders. #AltriaSciences #ScientistSpotlight #Movingbeyondsmoking

We do not want underage individuals to use our products. Preventing underage use remains a fundamental priority. At the same time, public health decisions require a population-level perspective. Data shows underage vaping has declined significantly in recent years, while adults who smoke are increasingly moving away from combustible cigarettes toward smoke-free alternatives. These trends highlight the importance of evaluating both sides of the equation. Preventing underage use and supporting adults who smoke in moving away from combustible cigarettes are both critical to improving population-level public health outcomes. A balanced, data-informed approach considers these dynamics together. Learn more at: ow.ly/2lRE50Z9Jks #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

Sharing new insights from the April 2026 update of the Adult Tobacco Consumer Tracker (ATCT). The ATCT provides timely, nationally representative data on tobacco use prevalence and transitions across product categories—including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-vapor products—among U.S. adults age 21+. Unlike many government surveys that lag by a year or more, ATCT delivers quarterly insights using 12-month moving averages, helping regulators and researchers better understand evolving patterns in tobacco use. This information is intended to support evidence-based policy discussions and inform efforts aimed at reducing the harm associated with combustible tobacco products through a clearer view of real-world consumer behavior. View the latest findings here: ow.ly/EklE50ZiNeq #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking

New research published in the American Journal of Health Behavior examines the effects of California’s flavored tobacco ban on adult smoking outcomes. Drawing on government survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the analysis was conducted using Altria’s Policy Impact Evaluation System. The study found no significant change in overall adult smoking rates compared with states without similar policies. It also identified that the ban slowed smoking declines among certain groups in California, including young adults and Hispanic individuals. Together, these findings suggest policy outcomes may vary across populations and may not always produce uniform effects. Understanding these differences can help inform more effective, evidence-based approaches to reducing smoking. Learn more at: ow.ly/nhwW50ZjAqU Source: “Effects of the California Flavored Tobacco Ban on Adult Cigarette Smoking”, published in the American Journal of Health Behavior.

We do not want underage individuals to use our products. Preventing underage use remains a core priority. Evidence continues to show that reducing underage use requires a comprehensive prevention framework. This includes enforcement against illicit products, strong age verification, retail compliance, and public education. Research evaluating flavor restrictions on their own consistently demonstrates limited impact on underage tobacco use patterns and access. Addressing underage use effectively means focusing on the factors that influence real-world behavior and applying solutions that reflect those dynamics. Learn more at: ow.ly/Fw0t50Z9JjY #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

Understanding underage vaping today starts with a clear view of what products are shaping the market. A growing share of vaping products, including those most commonly associated with underage vaping, are sold outside the regulated system without consistent product standards, age verification, or compliance oversight. This dynamic matters. When products operate outside the regulatory framework, public health safeguards, including those designed to prevent underage appeal and access, are not consistently applied. A transparent, data-driven discussion should reflect these real-world conditions and how they influence access and exposure. Learn more at: ow.ly/Ocr450Z9JiT #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

We do not want underage individuals to use our products. Preventing underage use remains a fundamental priority. At the same time, it is important that conversations about underage vaping are grounded in a full understanding of what the data shows. National survey data shows that flavors are not cited as a primary reason for use by the majority of underage vapers. Social influences, curiosity, and stress are reported at substantially higher rates. Understanding the full set of drivers is essential to informing effective, data-driven approaches to underage use prevention. Learn more at: ow.ly/OuWt50Z9Jhr #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

Understanding underage vaping today starts with a clear view of what products are shaping the market. A growing share of vaping products, including those most commonly associated with underage vaping, are sold outside the regulated system, without consistent age verification, product standards, or compliance oversight. When products operate outside the regulatory framework, public health safeguards, including those designed to limit underage appeal and access, are not consistently applied. Addressing underage use effectively requires acknowledging these real-world dynamics and ensuring enforcement against illicit products plays a role alongside regulation. Learn more at: ow.ly/ySsS50Z9JgZ #PreventUnderageUse #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

Conversations about youth vaping should begin with the most current data. As noted in our recent comments to FDA, national survey results show that youth vaping has declined significantly since its 2019 peak and is now at the lowest level in a decade. Youth prevention remains a critical priority. At the same time, a shared understanding of today’s data helps ensure the conversation is grounded in the current public health landscape. Learn more at: ow.ly/3GkX50Z8cMc #YouthPrevention #DataDriven #TobaccoHarmReduction

Progress in tobacco harm reduction depends on rigorous science and open dialogue. That’s why we share our research and engage with scientists, the public health community, and regulators—inviting review and conversation about our work. Explore our latest research and learn more at sciences.altria.com. #AltriaScience #Research #ScientificEngagement #HarmReduction

Visit Altria Science to explore our recent publications at: ow.ly/ElzZ50YIXkm #Science #Research #Publications #RegulatoryScience #HarmReduction

Science matters—especially when it comes to harm reduction. Jeff Edmiston shares how leading high‑quality clinical studies, grounded in Good Clinical Practices, helps build the scientific evidence behind smoke‑free products to provide adults who smoke with reduced-risk alternatives. #AltriaSciences #ScientistSpotlight #Movingbeyondsmoking

For our latest research updates and study highlights, follow Altria Sciences on LinkedIn. Science, data, and progress—one place.

Today at the FDLI Annual Conference, Paige Magness will join the panel “Next Gen Nicotine? Lessons from CTP’s Nicotine Pouch Pilot.” This timely conversation will cover FDA CTP’s nicotine pouch pilot program, key lessons learned, and recent authorizations. The discussion will also include discussions on the implications for APPH, SE exemptions, and supplemental PMTAs, and whether elements of the pilot could inform future approaches for ENDS and other nicotine products. #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking

Today at the Food & Drug Law Institute Annual Conference, Dr. Mohamadi Sarkar will join the panel “Risk, Reward, and Responsibility—From Data to Dialogue on Nicotine Communication,” alongside leading experts in science and public health. The discussion will explore how scientific evidence informs nicotine risk messaging, how communication may evolve, and how to better educate adults who smoke while avoiding youth appeal. #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking

Science is at the core of how we approach tobacco harm reduction. That’s why we follow a rigorous scientific framework—grounded in FDA guidance—to evaluate smoke-free products from product design to individual risk assessment and overall population impact. Our work spans toxicology, clinical research, population science, and modeling, and we aim to be transparent by inviting scientific review and dialogue. Learn more about our scientific framework: ow.ly/LTAS50YIYqt #AltriaScience #HarmReduction #PublicHealth #Innovation

Next week Altria will be attending and participating on panels at the 2026 FDLI Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The FDLI Annual Conference is a leading forum for the food and drug law community, bringing together experts from government, industry, academia, and advocacy to examine the legal, regulatory, compliance, and policy issues shaping FDA-regulated products, including tobacco and nicotine. We look forward to engaging in discussions on the evolving regulatory landscape for tobacco and nicotine products and connecting with stakeholders across the FDLI community. #AltriaSciences #HarmReduction #Movingbeyondsmoking