Prevent Cancer Foundation opposes any efforts to weaken FDA’s authority over tobacco products
On June 30, the Prevent Cancer Foundation joined national advocacy organizations, including medical, community and public health focused groups in a sign-on letter opposing any efforts to weaken the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority over cigars or any other tobacco products. Every year, approximately 540,000 people will die prematurely from tobacco-related cancers, heart disease, lung disease and stroke. Unless smoking rates decline, 5.6 million kids under 18 today will ultimately die from smoking. All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, pose risks to health and should adhere to science-based public health protections.
Over the years, manufacturers and sellers of tobacco products have sought to exclude certain products from FDA’s authority or weaken FDA oversight of them, including through the appropriations process. Fortunately, Congress has not restricted FDA’s statutory authority.
The group sign-on letter noted and applauded that Congress has rejected efforts in the past to weaken FDA’s authority over tobacco products. The group urges Congress to continue to reject any such efforts during consideration of the FY 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop on multi-cancer early detection testing recording now available
If you missed the Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop: A Patient-Centered Approach to Multi-Cancer Early Detection Testing, you can now watch the video to learn about this innovative new approach to cancer screening. The advocacy workshop brought together patients, providers, advocacy organizations and other stakeholders to engage in a dialogue around emerging innovation in cancer prevention and detection, with a focus on multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening tests.
Multi-cancer early detection is a groundbreaking new type of cancer screening test that utilize advances in genomic science and machine learning to transform cancer detection. Today in the U.S., we only have available recommended screenings for five types of cancer (breast, cervical, colorectal, high-risk lung, and prostate). Emerging innovation is our biggest hope to change this, including advances in MCED technologies. Access the event recording here.
Juul will pay North Carolina $40 million to settle suit over teen vaping
On June 28, Juul Labs, one of the world’s biggest e-cigarette manufacturers, agreed to pay $40 million to North Carolina to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of aggressively marketing to teenagers. North Carolina is the first state to reach a settlement with Juul for allegedly targeting youth through social media advertisements and other outlets and fueling a sharp rise in youth vaping. Another 13 states and D.C. also have sued the e-cigarette company. There is also a consolidated suit filed against Juul in federal court by thousands of counties, cities, school districts, and other plaintiffs.
As part of the agreement, Juul will not advertise to anyone under 21 in North Carolina, including through social media, and will limit sales amounts of Juul products online to any state residents. It will also restrict sales to only products behind counters at retailers that have ID scanners to ensure customers are of age.
Teen use of e-cigarettes sharply increased by more than 70% after Juul’s launch in 2015, which led the FDA to declare an “epidemic” of underage vaping among teenagers. E-cigarettes are hooking a new generation on nicotine – putting millions of kids at risk and threatening decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use.
