Just a Hypothetical Question:
If you were in a Position of Power in a BT company, wouldn't you have some PMTA's ready to go?
Interesting
BT is not a monolithic group of company's with respect to the deeming. Each of the members of BT may have different products currently on the market or no products on the market. Since humans make these decisions they are always subject to personell views, opinions, goals, and biases. With your indulgence let me narrow the issue and I will
pretend that I'm calling the shots for Vuse which is a RJR sub.
First things first. Before we submit our PMTA. My K street lobbyists are working over time and I'm hurling money like it's pasta to shape the legislation to suit my own business plan. Were talking to the FDA via back channels and trying to insure that the politicians are also on our side. We have outside very high powered attorneys already on retainer along with our own dozens of in house attorneys reading and trying to find loopholes that best fit our own business plan. We also have qualified scientists already on retainer to complete the time consuming and necessary "studies" that are required for PMTA. Since we currently offer 6 flavors one of our goals is to insure that we can continue to market all 6 flavors. Our packaging and our "warning" has already been looked at by our contacts at the FDA. Were prepared for minor tweaks and our TV spots have been carefully crafted to comply with what we currently think and have been "told" will be compliant. We also continue to shape the "commercial free speech" intended use proviso since we have seen FDA change their mind. We want a closed system since that's are current business plan. Were also hedging our bets and have placed "feelers" for purchase of other company's with more advanced gear. Were quite confident that their will be some "fire sales" and since we have buckets and buckets of cash we want to position ourselves as a controlling party for some of our competition. Were also looking at the IP angle and if we could purchase the patent for say VW we are and will explore this option. Ten millon for this is a drop in the bucket. Chump change! Were prepared to spend whatever it takes and that may well be over one hundred millon dollars!
We guestimate that it will be at least one year before we submit our PMTA. What's the rush? We've already shaped and finagled for a 24 month period of time before we must submit. We may even decide to wait longer and "see" what our competition does and react if necessary.
PLEASE remember, I'm pretending and not engaging in a moral, ethical, or legal debate on this issue.
Thank you!