Philip Morris
Dow - Nicorette Situation
Fields
- Author
- Latshaw, R.D.
- Area
- PM USA/CARLSTADT
- Type
- MEMO, MEMORANDUM
- Recipient (Organization)
- PM, Philip Morris
- Recipient
- Kay, A.J., J.R.
- Document File
- 2023799679/2023799822/Operations 940000 - 860000
- Request
- Stmn/R1-004
- Stmn/R1-071
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Author (Organization)
- PM, Philip Morris
- Named Organization
- Dow Chemical
- Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals
- Smoking Cessation Newsletter
- Union Carbide
- Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals
- Site
- N308
- Master ID
- 2023799789/9807
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- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- UCSF Legacy ID
- mjy25e00
Document Images
PHILIP MORRIS U. S. A.
1NTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
RICHMOND, YIRGINIA
To: . Mr. A. J. Kay, Jr.
From: . R. D. Latshaw
Subject: . DOW-NICORETTE SITUATION
Date:
September 6, 1985
Since our becoming aware of Dow's involvement with Nicorette in 1982, we
have conducted an ongoing dialogue with Dow attempting to eliminate, or
at least tone down, the Nicorette marketing and promotional activities.
Some of the more significant events which transpired are:
1. Dow's agreement to cancel The Smoking Cessation Newsletter in July,
1982.
2. Suspending our glycerine, propylene glycol, and TEG purchases in
May, 1984.due to the offensive nature of Nicorette's introduction.
3. Assurances in October, 1984 from Dow Chemical U.S.A. and Merrell Dow
Pharmaceuticals' top management that Dow is not assuming an anti-
smoking position despite the inherently "anti" nature of Nicorette.
These assurances were reinforced by such actions as Dow's withdrawing
support of purely anti-smoking associations, their Corporate Affairs
Department making sure there were no anti-cigarette industry policies,
and joint Dow Chemical-Merrell Dow reviews of Nicorette advertising
and promotions to eliminate purely anti-industry type themes.
4. Partial resumption of humectant purchases in October, 1984 based on
tight markets and to recognize Dow's response. Dow's annual 1984 and
1985 sales to PM U.S.A. are $3.1 million versus 1982 and 1983 annual
sales of $7.0 million.
We continue to be frustrated by Merrell Dow's advertising of Nicorette.
Their perception is that Nicorette is a competitive product whose theme is
"if you want to quit smoking, we have a product". They claim to have no
policy or dictate against the cigarette industry. But the fact remains that
every ad which appears is offensive because of the purpose of Nicorette.
We have so far chosen not to permanently eliminate Dow as a supplier for the
following reasons:
1. To cut off Dow would seriously jeopardize the supply security of
glycerine, propylene glycol, and TEG. They are the only U.S. synthetic
glycerine producer accounting for one-third of this country's output.
They are one of only two integrated PG producers. Dow is the only back-
up source of TEG to Union Carbide.
2. Except for the Nicorette problem, Dow is a first-class, dependable
supplier.
2023'799796

Mr. A. J. Kay, Jr. - Z- September 6, 1985
3. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals is a separate division of Dow, Dow
Chemical U.S.A. being PM's supplier. The Dow Chemical U.S.A.
organization has been very supportive of PM during the whole
Nicorette affair.
4. As a customer we have an ameliorating influence on Nicorette pro-
motions. We would lose this impact as a non-customer.
Attached for your review are notes of some of the key sessions conducted
with Dow.
RDL/lwk
