The Food and Drug Administration's top tobacco scientist has accepted a job at tobacco giant Philip Morris International, just weeks
after he signed off on the company's latest vape product.
Matt Holman, chief of the office of science
in the agency's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), announced his departure from the FDA
on Tuesday, effective immediately, after having served at the agency for more
than 20 years.
His departure adds to ongoing trouble within the FDA's tobacco control division, which is currently under review by agency commissioner Robert Califf.
It also follows the division's loss of Mitch Zeller, who retired in April after serving as CTP director for nearly a
decade. Brian King, who announced Holman's resignation in an internal memo, was appointed
director earlier this month.
Matt Holman (left), the FDA's top tobacco scientist, has left the agency to
work for Philip Morris International, the maker of Marlboro
cigarettes. His departure follows the division's loss of Mitch Zeller (right), who retired in April
after serving as CTP director for nearly a decade
Changes to CTP's organizational structure come amid FDA efforts to regulate the vaping market and just weeks after the agency temporarily
reversed its June decision to ban Juul e-cigarettes from being sold in stores.
Philip Morris, although most known for its production of Marlboro cigarettes, is also a producer of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and oral
nicotine products.
At CTP, Holman played a key role in e-cigarette approvals,
including IQOS, a 'heat-not-burn' tobacco device produced by Philip Morris International
(PMI).
Although IQOS isn't currently sold in the US due to patent issues,
it could possibly face new FDA reviews if those issues were to be resolved.
The product is currently sold in Korea, Japan and other
countries, but the firm hopes to resume sales in the US next year.
Holman told The New York Times on Wednesday that his role at PMI was 'broadly defined' but involved working on tobacco harm-reduction efforts, noting he was drawn to the agency because of its goal to
push smokers from using cigarettes to noncombustible and less harmful products.
'They are taking the actions that I think would align with such a goal,' Holman said.
'And that's what really drew my attention to PMI. I'm
going there not to help them sell more cigarettes, but the opposite.'
The biochemist said he would also provide input on regulatory submissions.
A PMI spokesperson, in a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday, declined to give specifics about Holman's role at the firm but
said 'he will abide by all applicable post-government employment restrictions.'
'These restrictions prohibit Dr. Holman from appearing before or communicating with the FDA on behalf of PMI
regarding any matter for a period of one year.
'In addition, Dr. Holman is prohibited for a period of two years from
appearing before or communicating with the FDA on behalf of PMI regarding any matter that was pending under his official responsibility
during his last year of government service.
'Finally, Dr. Holman is permanently prohibited from appearing before or
communicating with the FDA on behalf of PMI regarding any particular matter in which he was personally and substantially
involved during the entirety of his government service.'
Holman's departure comes just weeks after the federal regulator temporarily reversed its June decision to ban Juul e-cigarettes
from being sold in stores. Philip Morris (NYC headquarters pictured) is
also a producer of e-cigarettes and e-vapor devices
Further details about his appointment will be disclosed at a later date, but the spokesperson reiterated the company is 'looking forward' to
Holman joining their team 'as we continue to pursue a smoke-free future.'
Holman was earning more than $230,000 annually while working at CTP,
according to 2020 income reports reviewed by FederalPay.org.
CTP director King's Tuesday memo - which was made public by Stat News
Correspondent Nicholas Florko - revealed Holman had been on leave
prior to his resignation.
King said the former chief 'recused himself, consistent with agency ethics policies, from all CTP/FDA work while exploring career opportunities outside of government.'
He also applauded Holman for helping CTP through a 'critical time,' which included
'including preparing for and overseeing review for the bolus of premarket tobacco product applications.'
He said that although he and Holman 'didn't have an opportunity to work together,'
he was 'grateful' for his contributions to the agency
and 'wishes him well in his next chapter.'
It is unclear what Zeller made as CTP director, as his income documents have been redacted.
However, Glassdoor reports the average FDA division direct salary is $200,891. Based on Holman's salary, DailyMail.com analysts speculate Zeller was earning over $230,
000 annually.
His departure was announced by CTP Director Brian King in a memo
on Tuesday, which has since been made public by Stat News Correspondent Nicholas Florko
Critics argue Holman's recent career change is concerning due to
the 'revolving door' between federal officials
and corporations they regulate.
However, federal rules governing career changes do not prohibit an official who oversees regulatory
matters from leaving the agency and then joining corporations
with products under review.
Rules do restrict Holman - or any other former FDA employee - from appearing before the agency about
issues he 'participated personally and substantially during government
service.'
'This is legal. That's the bottom line,' Dr. Michael Carome, director of the Public Citizen health research group, told the Times. 'It's this type of revolving door move that really undermines public confidence
in the agency.'
Critics argue Holman's career change is concerning due to the 'revolving door' between federal officials and corporations they regulate.
PICTURED: Cigarettes moves along a machine during the
assembly process at the Philip Morris International production facility in Medellin, Colombia in June 2017
Those skeptical of the move are also questioning the recent approval of the Philip Morris
smokeless tobacco product which is an electronic device that,
unlike e-cigarettes, contains tobacco.
Dr. Stanton Glantz, a retired professor of medicine, argued the agency's approval of iqos iluma one รีวิว
'disregarded valid scientific evidence and misapplied the public health standard mandated by law.'
He claims Holman ignored a major study showing that e-cigarette
use was not associated with reduced smoking rates and that approving vapes is not combating the
problem of dual-use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
'He's the one who signed off on these approvals,' he said.
'They deal with all of these issues by ignoring it, by relying on out-of-date studies.'
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
2
Next
FDA will temporarily allow Juul e-cigarettes to be sold in...
Teachers' body urges mandatory bag and pocket checks of...
Primary school students are now
VAPING at school as experts...
Share this article
Share
Earlier this month, the FDA temporarily restored the sale
of Juul e-cigarettes after reviewing the company's appeal of a decision to pull the products from the market.
The FDA chose to reject the company's application to
remain on store shelves in late June as part
of a larger crackdown on teen smoking and the tobacco
industry overall.
While many other major e-cigarette manufacturers
were allowed to remain on shelves, Juul was instead rejected.
The San Francisco, California, company appealed
the decision.
Earlier this month, the FDA temporarily restored the sale of Juul e-cigarettes after reviewing
the company's appeal of a decision to pull the products from the market
(file photo)
On July 5, America's top regulator agency cited 'scientific issues' as a reason to
stay the ban and allow the products to temporarily return.
'This administrative stay temporarily suspends the marketing denial
order during the additional review but does not rescind it,'
the agency wrote in a tweet.
'All electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS products, including those made by JUUL, are required by law
to have FDA authorization to be legally marketed. The stay and the agency's review does not constitute authorization to
market, sell, or ship JUUL products.'
Juul rocketed to popularity in the U.S.
in the 2010s, as its fruit flavored nicotine products became trendy among younger smokers - leading to the company also shouldering blame
for increases in teen smoking.
To limit rises in teen smoking, the FDA banned fruit
flavored e-cigarette devices, and forced each company to apply individually to allow their products to remain on shelves.
Juul was expected to have its application approved.
Juul has branded its products as devices that can help those
addicted to nicotine slowly ween themselves off safely - as vape
devices do not have many of the same downsides as smoking tobacco cigarettes do.
Instead, though, the fruity and mint flavors in many of its devices have led to many children and teens
picking up smoking - when they likely would not have otherwise.
This has placed Juul, and the e-cigarette market in general, in the FDA's
crosshairs in recent years.
FDA