A former tobacco industry executive has been appointed to senior leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alarming public health advocates and critics of industry influence on government. Stephen Sayle, named in March as the CDC’s deputy director for legislative affairs , previously worked at Fontem Ventures, a subsidiary of the British multinational tobacco corporation Imperial Brands.
Between 2017 and 2018, he was U.S. vice president of corporate affairs at Fontem, which is focused on non-combustible tobacco products like the e-cigarette brand blu and the oral nicotine pouch brand Zone.  Read the rest...
STAT News published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 22 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on Former tobacco executive joins CDC senior leadership, raising concerns over industry influence.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.