STEVENSON, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The securities litigation law firm of Brower Piven, A Professional Corporation, announces that a class action lawsuit has been commenced in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of purchasers of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) (“Philip Morris” or the “Company”) securities during the period between July 26, 2016 and December 20, 2017, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Investors who wish to become proactively involved in the litigation have until February 20, 2018 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff.

If you wish to choose counsel to represent you and the class, you must apply to be appointed lead plaintiff and be selected by the Court. The lead plaintiff will direct the litigation and participate in important decisions including whether to accept a settlement for the class in the action. The lead plaintiff will be selected from among applicants claiming the largest loss from investment in Philip Morris securities during the Class Period. Members of the class will be represented by the lead plaintiff and counsel chosen by the lead plaintiff. No class has yet been certified in the above action.

The complaint accuses the defendants of violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by virtue of the defendants’ failure to disclose during the Class Period that there were irregularities in the clinical experiments that underpin Philip Morris’ application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for approval of its iQOS smoking device.

According to the complaint, following a December 20, 2017 report announcing that former employees and contractors have detailed irregularities in the clinical experiments underpinning the application for the FDA for approval of the iQOS smoking device, the value of Philip Morris shares declined significantly.

If you have suffered a loss in excess of $100,000 from investment in Philip Morris securities purchased on or after July 26, 2016 and held through the revelation of negative information during and/or at the end of the Class Period and would like to learn more about this lawsuit and your ability to participate as a lead plaintiff, without cost or obligation to you, please contact Brower Piven either by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (410) 415-6616.

Attorneys at Brower Piven have extensive experience in litigating securities and other class action cases and have been advocating for the rights of shareholders since the 1980s. If you choose to retain counsel, you may retain Brower Piven without financial obligation or cost to you, or you may retain other counsel of your choice. You need take no action at this time to be a member of the class.

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