A tobacco company has angered health campaigners by reportedly snapping up exclusive rights to future vaccines for lung cancer.
The Guardianreports that Japan Tobacco, which makes Camel, Winston and Mild Seven, has paid pharmaceutical company Corixa for an exclusive vaccine licence.
It also claims the company has invested in two other pharmaceutical companies.
News that a tobacco firm could profit from a lung cancer vaccine has angered doctors and health campaigners.
Mr Clive Bates, of Action on Smoking and Health, told the Guardian: "What we have got is a company that wants to block the things that would prevent the diseases in the first place and profit from mopping up the mess that their products have created".
But Mr Roy Tsuji, general manager of the media and investor relations division at Japan Tobacco, said the company was diversifying because of the limited prospects for growth in the tobacco sector.
"The vast majority of people welcome efforts that help find drugs for various diseases," he said.
PA