A Cigarette to Help Californians Smoke Less: 22nd Century Group, Inc. Launches Reduced Nicotine VLN® King Cigarettes in California, VLN Will Be Sold at #1 U.S. Convenience Store Chain and Other Responsible Retail Locations
17 Juli 2023 - 3:20PM
Biotech company 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: XXII) this week
launched VLN® King cigarettes, the first-ever reduced nicotine
combustible cigarette, in the California market. Starting July
17th, VLN® cigarettes contain a staggering 95% less nicotine than
conventional cigarettes and will be conveniently available in
California at more than 275 sites of the number one convenience
store in the US, in addition to numerous other convenience stores
across California. VLN® King cigarettes have made history by
receiving U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a
modified risk tobacco product (MRTP).
“We see our VLN® product offering Californians who smoke a
tremendous new option because VLN® cigarettes are specifically
designed to help smokers smoke less, increase their number of
smoke-free days, and reduce their nicotine exposure and
dependence,” said John Miller, 22nd Century Group President,
Tobacco Division. “Our goal with VLN® is to meet California
consumers where they are with a combustible product that helps
people smoke less.”
In the FDA press release announcing the VLN® MRTP authorization,
Mitch Zeller, J.D., former FDA Director for the Center for Tobacco
Products, said, “Our mission is to find ways to stop
tobacco-related disease and death. We know that three out of four
adult smokers want to quit and the data on these products show that
they can help addicted adult smokers transition away from highly
addictive combusted cigarettes. Having options like these products
authorized today, which contain less nicotine and are reasonably
likely to reduce nicotine dependence, may help adult smokers. If
adult smokers were less addicted to combusted cigarettes, they
would likely smoke less and may be exposed to fewer harmful
chemicals that cause tobacco-related disease and death.”
According to recent data from the California Department of
Public Health, approximately 6.2% of adult Californians are tobacco
cigarettes users, which translates to an estimated 2.4 million
adults still consuming high-nicotine cigarettes in the state.
Remarkably, research indicates that nearly 70% of smokers want to
quit smoking or smoke less – and 22nd Century Group, Inc.’s VLN®
cigarettes are intended to support individuals achieve success on
their journey to a smoke-free life.
Research conducted in 20181 highlighted the significant benefits
experienced by smokers who transitioned to reduced nicotine content
cigarettes. The study revealed that over a period of 20 weeks,
smokers were able to reduce their daily cigarette consumption by
50%, leading to an increased number of smoke-free days and quit
attempts. Additionally, participants reported a noticeable decrease
in cravings and fewer withdrawal symptoms during the
transition.
“VLN® cigarettes are clinically proven to help adult smokers
smoke less and cut back on their nicotine intake,” said Calvin
Treat, 22nd Century Group, Inc., Chief Scientific Officer. “The
scientific body of research supports the efficacy of VLN®
cigarettes as a smoking reduction tool, and this is a significant
advance in smoking reduction technology available to consumers. We
know that U.S. regulators and policymakers are seeking to create a
nicotine cap for cigarettes, and VLN® is leading the charge on
making a reduced nicotine combustible option a reality.”
VLN® King cigarettes will soon be available at designated
convenience store locations across California, starting on July 17,
2023.
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: XXII) is a leading
agricultural biotechnology company focused on tobacco harm
reduction, reduced nicotine tobacco and improving health and
wellness through plant science. With dozens of patents allowing it
to control nicotine biosynthesis in the tobacco plant, the Company
has developed priority reduced nicotine content (RNC) tobacco
plants and cigarettes, which have become the cornerstone of the
FDA’s Comprehensive Plan to address the widespread death and
disease caused by smoking. The Company reduced the first and only
FDA Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) authorization of a
combustible cigarette in December 2021. In tobacco, hemp/cannabis,
and hop plants, 22nd Century uses modern plant breeding
technologies, including genetic engineering, gene-editing, and
molecular breeding to deliver solutions for the life science and
consumer products industries by creating new, proprietary plants
with optimized alkaloid and flavonoid profiles as well as improved
yields and valuable agronomic traits.
Learn more at www.xxiicentury.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the
statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press
release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,”
“consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,”
“foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,”
“potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,”
“promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar
expressions. Actual results might differ materially from those
explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are
set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K filed on March 9, 2023. All information provided in this
release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no
obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations & Media Contact
Matt KrepsInvestor Relations22nd Century
Groupmkreps@xxiicentury.com214-597-8200
1 Hatsukami DK, Luo X, Jensen JA, et al. Effect of Immediate vs
Gradual Reduction in Nicotine Content of Cigarettes on Biomarkers
of Smoke Exposure: A Randomized Clinical
Trial. JAMA. 2018;320(9):880–891.
doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11473
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