Science behind IQOS

We believe in science. We believe it can change the lives of millions of smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke. To this effect, we recruited scientists to work on an important idea: developing less harmful products that cigarette smokers can switch to if they don’t quit. Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centers in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco. It produces a tobacco vapour that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine.

Tested to the highest standards

IQOS has gone through robust scientific assessments, including, to date, 18 non-clinical and 10 clinical studies involving thousands of participants. The totality of evidence available shows that, while IQOS use is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS presents less risk to your health than continuing to smoke cigarettes.¹

Do you want to find out why we can conclude this? Learn more about some of the key pieces of scientific evidence on IQOS.

Why heating is better

Technology – the world revolves around it. Over the years, it has radically changed our lives for the better. The way we work, the way we communicate, the way we travel. By combining science and technology is how we developed a better alternative to continued smoking.

IQOS is changing for the better the way adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products, can have cigarette-like satisfaction.²

IQOS HeatControl^TM Technology prevents tobacco from burning, which means it significantly reduces the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarette smoke.

Science machine

Did you know we’ve created a machine to show the significant differences between smoke produced by burning tobacco in a cigarette compared with the tobacco vapour generated when tobacco is heated in IQOS? Watch the science machine video to see more.

¹Source Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.

² Source 3 month clinical studies conducted in US and Japan with 160 adult smokers each under real conditions (ambulatory).