Pharmacia Symposium Explores Latest Research in Individualizing Treatment With Nicotine Replacement Therapy Distinguished International Faculty Focuses on Expanding Choice to Meet Individual Needs at 11th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health Event CHICAGO, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Pharmacia, world leader in the treatment of tobacco dependence, will present the symposium "Progress in Treatment with Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Expanding Choice to Meet Individual Needs" as part of the 11th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (WCTOH) in Chicago. At the event, a distinguished international panel of experts will examine many facets of how nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help address the needs of smokers as they struggle to break free of their tobacco addiction. The symposium, which will be held on Tuesday, August 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Waldorf Room of the Chicago Hilton & Towers Hotel, is one highlight of Pharmacia's activities at the conference, for which it is a primary patron. "We recognize that smokers are people, not statistics, and that a crucial step in decreasing tobacco use worldwide is to understand the individual needs of the faces behind the smoke," said Stephen P. MacMillan, Sector Vice President, Global Specialty Operations, Pharmacia Corporation. "This symposium underscores the individuality of smokers' needs and the growing role that nicotine replacement therapies can play in decreasing or eliminating tobacco use. As a leader in the field, Pharmacia is committed to extending the range and availability of our therapies around the world to better meet these individual needs." Symposium Agenda and Speakers John Hughes, MD, of the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Family Practice at the University of Vermont, USA will chair the symposium. Dr. Hughes is a recognized expert on NRT, with numerous published articles on the topic. Other symposium participants include: * Jean-Francois Etter, PhD, of the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Etter will profile different types of smokers, smoking behaviors, and stages of change. Because smokers and their personal goals are so diverse, there is a need for a choice of NRT products and for varying levels of behavioral support when quitting. * Yves Martinet, MD, PhD, of the Federation de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy-Brabois in France. Dr. Martinet will examine the effectiveness of combining NRT products in a smoking cessation program. * Jean-Pierre Zellweger, MD, of the Policlinique Medical Universitaire in Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Zellweger will review the current evidence of NRT in smoking reduction with regard to efficacy, safety, and health benefits. He will also present data from a study that he co-authored on long-term inhaler smoking reduction, which was published this week in a special edition of the British Medical Journal. * Jonathan Foulds, MD, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Surrey, UK. Dr. Foulds will examine the treatment of tobacco craving and withdrawal symptoms with NRT in light of today's growing smoke-free environments. * Christer Wernrud, MD, Global Vice President of Research & Development for the Consumer Healthcare division of Pharmacia Corporation. Dr. Wernrud will present an overview of Pharmacia approaches and goals for optimizing NRT treatment. Combination treatment, new indications, and wider access will be addressed, along with a summary of ongoing research and expectations. A discussion session with all panelists will follow Dr. Wernrud's presentation. About the WCTOH The 11th WCTOH is an international summit of 3,500 leaders in medicine, health, government, business, advocacy, communications, and education. The goal of the six-day conference is to galvanize all segments of society to reduce the use of tobacco around the world. During the event, delegates will interact, share information and ideas, and develop and enhance their advocacy networks. The official hosts for the conference are the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Co-sponsoring agencies for the event include the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Cancer Institute. As a primary patron for the event, Pharmacia Corporation will also work cooperatively with other pharmaceutical manufacturers to support a symposium on the influence of cessation on parental and adolescent smoking. Additionally, the company will underwrite the daily conference newsletter, support the conference's GLOBALink Cyber Center, and support the conference's scholarship program with a $300,000 contribution from the Pharmacia Foundation. Throughout the event, Pharmacia representatives from around the world will be at the company's exhibit booth to answer attendees' questions about the wide range of Pharmacia NRT products. About Pharmacia Corporation Pharmacia Corporation (NYSE: PHA) is a leading global pharmaceutical company created through the merger of Pharmacia & Upjohn with Monsanto Company and its G.D. Searle unit. Pharmacia has a broad product portfolio, a robust pipeline of new medicines, and an annual investment of more than $2 billion in pharmaceutical research and development. The Consumer Healthcare division of Pharmacia is a world leader in the development of tobacco dependence therapies, and is the pioneer in innovative nicotine replacement therapy products marketed globally as the Nicorette(R) and Nicotrol(R) gum, patch, inhaler, nasal spray and sublingual tablets. For product information, refer to http://www.nicotrol.com. SOURCE: Pharmacia Corporation CONTACT: Mary-Frances Faraji of Pharmacia Corporation, 908-306-8361, or [email protected]; or Kim Diamond of Edelman Healthcare, 212-704-4535, or [email protected], for Pharmacia Corporation Web site: http://www.nicotrol.com (PHA) -END-