Summary Box Virginia company test case for FDA’s review of ‘modified risk’ tobacco products

Summary Box: Company seeks ‘modified-risk’ tobacco

FIRE WHERE THERE’S NO SMOKE: Star Scientific has made itself the test case for whether the Food and Drug Administration will allow certain tobacco products — particularly its dissolvable smokeless tobacco — to be marketed as less harmful than cigarettes.

WHY IT MATTERS: How the FDA handles the products is being closely watched by both the public health community and bigger tobacco companies.

WILL SMOKERS SWITCH?: Some researchers believe smokeless tobacco products are poor substitutes for smokers because the combination of addiction and smoking rituals are difficult to overcome.