From Fortune:

Public health experts are urging the Biden administration to ban menthol cigarettes as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative, in an effort to prevent 4 million cancer deaths by 2047. Though the decision is still under consideration, organizations like the American Cancer Society insist that a ban would save lives and is already proving successful at the state level.

In an effort to fulfill its mission of combating cancer and saving lives, the Biden administration is considering a ban on menthol cigarettes. This move has been urged by public health experts as a crucial step in preventing cancer deaths, especially among Black smokers, who use menthol cigarettes at a much higher rate than white smokers. The World Health Organization has also supported the ban, emphasizing that menthol and other flavored tobacco products make smoking more appealing to youth.

While discussions around a potential ban on menthol cigarettes continue, the Biden administration celebrates two years of achievements under the Cancer Moonshot initiative, including new funding for cutting-edge biomedical research and expanded access to patient navigators for cancer patients. The recent establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) with bipartisan support is seen as a significant win in the fight against cancer. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, stresses the importance of implementing a menthol ban as part of the Cancer Moonshot’s goals of preventing 4 million cancer deaths by 2047.

The Biden administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative is celebrating two years of significant achievements, including the establishment of ARPA-H and expanded access to patient navigators for cancer patients. Discussions around a potential ban on menthol cigarettes continue, with public health experts urging the administration to take action to prevent cancer deaths. While the decision is still pending, proponents of the ban emphasize its potential to save lives and are calling on the administration to prioritize its implementation.

The Cancer Moonshot initiative has made significant progress in the fight against cancer, with achievements including the establishment of ARPA-H and expanded access to patient navigators for cancer patients. While a potential ban on menthol cigarettes is still under consideration, public health experts are urging the Biden administration to prioritize it in the fight against cancer, emphasizing the potential to save lives and prevent millions of cancer deaths.



Read more: Public health advocates urge action on menthol, applaud accomplishments like patient navigation as Biden administration celebrates 2-year anniversary of ‘cancer moonshot’