Aug 21 (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it had authorized 11 nicotine pouch products recently launched by Philip Morris, citing lower levels of harmful constituents compared with other oral and smokeless tobacco products.
Philip Morris unveiled its higher-strength Zyn Ultra nicotine pouches in June, at prices lower than its flagship Zyn brand, to fend off competition from British American Tobacco’s Velo.
Here are more details:
• The latest authorization follows the agency’s June approval of 20 variants of the company’s Zyn pouches as less harmful than cigarettes.
• These pouches, placed under the lip to deliver nicotine, are the fastest-growing nicotine category in the United States.
• The newly authorized products include 9 mg Zyn Ultra Citrus, Menthol, and Wintergreen variants made by Philip Morris subsidiary Swedish Match USA.
• Last month, Philip Morris reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and said it would increase investment in Zyn as competition intensifies. However, the tobacco company lowered its annual forecast amid currency headwinds.
(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru; Editing by Diti Pujara)
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