22nd Century Announces New Cannabis Research Collaboration with Anandia Laboratories
October 15 2015 - 7:50AM
Business Wire
Initial focus will include cannabinoid-free
cannabis for commercial hemp industry and high levels of non-THC
cannabinoids, such as CBD, for legal medical marijuana markets.
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XXII), a leader in tobacco
harm reduction, announced today an important new initiative in
plant biotechnology: 22nd Century has entered into a new cannabis
research collaboration with strategic partner Anandia Laboratories,
Inc. (Anandia), based in Vancouver, Canada. As a part of this
research collaboration, Anandia will develop and grow cannabis
strains that express highly desirable characteristics and will lead
to exciting commercialization opportunities. Dr. Paul Rushton, 22nd
Century’s new Vice President of Plant Biotechnology, will have
responsibility for this partnership with Anandia.
The Company last year announced that Botanical Genetics, LLC (a
wholly owned subsidiary of 22nd Century Group) entered into a
worldwide license agreement with Anandia that granted exclusive
rights to 22nd Century in the United States to four genes required
for cannabinoid production in the cannabis plant. The license also
granted 22nd Century co-exclusive rights with Anandia to this
proprietary technology in all countries outside of the U.S. and
Canada. Anandia retained exclusive rights in Canada.
The proprietary technology licensed from Anandia allows for the
development of cannabis strains that demonstrate either an increase
or decrease in the production and content of all, or certain
subsets of, cannabinoids. The long-term goals of the Company’s
research activities relating to cannabis are to develop, protect
and commercially produce unique cannabis plant varieties that
include high levels of non-THC cannabinoids, such as CBD, for the
legal medical marijuana markets, as well as virtually
cannabinoid-free cannabis for the commercial hemp industry.
Jonathan Page, Ph.D., Co-Founder, CEO and Chief Scientific
Officer of Anandia – and the inventor of some of 22nd Century’s
powerful transcription factor technology in the tobacco plant – is
an internationally-recognized pioneer and leader in cannabis
science who co-led the team that first sequenced the cannabis
genome and has made fundamental discoveries about cannabinoid
biosynthesis. Applying Dr. Page’s expertise and Anandia’s patented
technology, the Anandia team will use modern plant breeding
approaches and genomics to create next-generation cannabis
strains.
Dr. Page stated, “Anandia benefits from an excellent
relationship with 22nd Century and we are excited to be expanding
our relationship through this research collaboration aimed at
creating unique cannabis strains with highly desirable traits that
can be commercialized quickly.”
Henry Sicignano, III, President and CEO of 22nd Century
explained, “In much the same way that we enjoy a monopoly on the
nicotinic biosynthetic pathway of tobacco, our license agreement
and research activities with Anandia will facilitate 22nd Century’s
control of the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway in cannabis
throughout the U.S. market.” Mr. Sicignano continued, “Though not
directly related to our main tobacco businesses, the exclusivity
in, and control of, ‘next generation cannabis strains’ could
ultimately be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to 22nd
Century.”
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company focused on
technology that allows it to increase or decrease the level of
nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in
cannabis plants through genetic engineering and plant breeding. The
Company’s primary mission is to reduce the harm caused by smoking.
22nd Century currently owns or exclusively controls more than 185
issued patents and more than 50 pending patent applications around
the world. The Company’s strong IP position led to a licensing
agreement with British American Tobacco (“BAT”), the world’s second
largest tobacco company. Visit www.xxiicentury.com for more
information.
About Anandia Laboratories Inc.
Anandia Laboratories, Inc. is the emerging leader in cannabis
genetics and variety improvement. Building on the pioneering
research of Co-Founder Dr. Jonathan Page and utilizing its
world-leading intellectual property position, Anandia is applying
modern plant breeding approaches and genomics to create
next-generation cannabis strains optimized to address grower and
consumer challenges. Anandia also continues to contribute to the
evolution of the cannabis industry by helping partners through
shared knowledge, analytical testing, and genomic analysis
services. Visit www.anandialabs.com for more information.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press
release contains forward-looking information, including all
statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the
intent, belief or current expectations of 22nd Century Group, Inc.,
its directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this
press release. The words “may,” “would,” “will,” “expect,”
“estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend” and similar
expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should
be considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements
that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable
law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not
intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform
these statements to reflect actual results, later events or
circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. You should carefully review and consider the various
disclosures made by us in our annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2014, filed on February 6, 2015, including
the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and our other reports filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which attempt to
advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect
our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash
flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual
results may vary materially from those expected or projected.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151015005774/en/
Investor Relations for 22nd Century Group, Inc.:Andrew Haag,
866-976-4784xxii@irthcommunications.comorRedington, Inc.Tom
Redington, 203-222-7399orInvestor Relations for Anandia
Laboratories, Inc.:John Coleman,
604-822-0253jcoleman@anandialabs.com
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