Philip Morris International announced on Thursday a strategic collaboration with Canadian-based start-up Parallax to focus on advancing the development and commercialization of a nicotine-delivery system that leverages the advanced technologies in pulmonary medicine.
Parallax is a start-up co-founded by two Canadian pulmonary physicians focused on developing an inhalable nicotine product to provide less harmful alternatives to people who smoke. Since its founding, Parallax has assembled a team of experts in formulation, device design, pharmaceutical quality manufacturing, product research and consumer insights.
Said Manuel Peitsch, PMI’s chief scientific officer, “Science and technology will be essential to a future where all men and women who smoke switch to better alternatives. Our collaboration with Parallax, founded by world-renowned experts in pulmonary research and technology, is another step forward and will give us access to innovative technologies and expertise.”
Steven Ellis, Parallax’s CEO, added, “Our team couldn’t be more excited about this next step in our journey - working with the global leader in smoke-free innovation and collaborating with its scientific team in fulfilling our joint mission of replacing what we all know is the most harmful delivery system for nicotine -- the cigarette -- with innovative alternatives that clearly move smokers to a better place in the harm reduction continuum.”
PMI’s aspiration is that at least 30 percent of its consumers, some 40 million men and women, will switch to its smoke-free products by 2025.