Dr. Sarkar leads a team of scientists within Regulatory Affairs at Altria that provide strategic direction towards developing the science and evidence for regulatory submissions for smoke-free tobacco products. Before being appointed to his current position, Dr. Sarkar led the Clinical Research Team. He has authored more than 100 scientific peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific meetings and authored a variety of scientific book chapters. Dr. Sarkar has also participated in multiple presentations on harm reduction including at FDA, Institute of Medicine and at various scientific conferences. Before joining Altria, Dr. Sarkar was a tenured Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at West Virginia University, and Professor, Tobacco Research Center, WVU Cancer Center, conducting research on smoking and health, funded by the National Cancer Institute. He continues to teach at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is Fellow of the College of Clinical Pharmacology and the Royal Society of Medicine.
All videos (2)
GFN.TV Interviews #93 | FILLING THE VOID | Illicit Products Proliferate as FDA Reviews Grind On
7 Aug 2026
Prohibition cannot eliminate consumer demand. It’s an iron rule of free markets. As lower-risk nicotine products remain stuck under FDA review, illicit products proliferate to fill the void. Shot on location at GFN 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, Altria’s Dr. Mohamadi Sarkar argues that slow authorization decisions have left regulators playing enforcement “whack-a-mole” while adult smokers wait for more FDA-authorized alternatives.
Featuring:
DR. MOHAMADI SARKAR
Regulatory Science & Engagement, Altria
Affiliate Prof., Clinical Pharmacology, VCU
@AltriaScience
Do smoke-free product/flavour bans work? | #GFN26 Workshop
13 Jul 2026
More than a billion adults globally smoke combustible cigarettes. The harm caused can be reduced if individuals switch completely to smoke-free products. Availability of a wide range of options can accelerate their switching journey. However, access to products is being restricted by either outright bans or flavour restrictions. Whilst aimed at preventing underage use, this overlooks the needs of adults who smoke. This session will focus on a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of whether product/flavour bans achieve the objective of reducing youth use of smoke-free products, without undermining adult smokers’ access to effective switching options.