New TCRG research on PMI targeting dental professionals in Germany

A new article from the Tobacco Control Research Group and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), published in Tobacco Control, explores how Philip Morris International’s German subsidiary is targeting German dental professionals.

The researchers draw on publicly available sources, including dental magazines and dental e-learning platforms, to document how the company promotes its ‘harm reduction’ messaging.

This is the first paper to expose the scope of Philip Morris’s activities aimed at embedding industry narratives into dental professional norms, continuing education, and patient care.

Lead author Britta K Matthes notes:

Philip Morris’s activities in the dental field in Germany are deeply concerning and need to be denormalised. A first step is raising awareness among dental professionals and empowering individuals and organisations to critically assess industry narratives. Dental organisations should consider adopting policies to protect their journals, conferences, and other activities – as the IADR and AADOCR recently did. Finally, tobacco control advocates globally should remain alert to similar tactics emerging in their own contexts.

Read the paper:

“Let us all work together for the larger public health good.” Philip Morris targeting German dental professionals, B.K. Matthes, L. Graen, K. Schaller, Tobacco Control, Published Online First: 22 July 2025, doi: 10.1136/tc-2025-059527

See also:

The IADR and AADOCR Policy Statement on Tobacco Industry–Funded Research in the Journal of Dental Research, 2025

Related Tobacco Tactics articles:

• Tobacco Companies Targeting Health Professionals – Tobacco Tactics
• Tobacco Companies Targeting Health Professionals: The Tactics – Tobacco Tactics