22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes Identified as an Important Public Health Tool to Reduce Smoking Rates in New Ze...
February 03 2016 - 9:15AM
Business Wire
81% of surveyed smokers believe nicotine
content of cigarettes should be reduced to very low levels so that
they are less addictive
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII), a plant biotechnology
company that is a leader in tobacco harm reduction, announced today
that public health advocates in New Zealand have contacted 22nd
Century to advance their plans to introduce 22nd Century’s Very Low
Nicotine (VLN) cigarettes into commerce in New Zealand at a tax
rate substantially lower than that of conventional cigarettes.
Taking note that the Company recently launched MAGIC 0 Very Low
Nicotine cigarettes in Europe, and that 22nd Century submitted to
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2015 a
Modified Risk Tobacco Product application for BRAND A VLN
cigarettes, New Zealand public health advocates believe a Very Low
Nicotine cigarette that is taxed at lower rates could be an
important part of the public health initiative in New Zealand that
aims to achieve a smoke free New Zealand by the year 2025.
Conditions in New Zealand are favorable for such a national
policy on smoking reduction. On January 8, 2016, the New Zealand
Health Promotion Agency reported that a population-based survey of
approximately 2,600 adults in New Zealand showed wide support (81%
of those surveyed, 63% of smokers) for the concept that "nicotine
content of cigarettes should be reduced to very low levels so that
they are less addictive."
One of New Zealand’s most experienced researchers on smoking
policy and cigarettes, Dr. Murray Laugesen, has been advocating for
a national nicotine policy for several years. In 2012, Dr. Laugesen
wrote in The New Zealand Medical Journal: “Very low nicotine…
cigarettes (not currently on sale in New Zealand) have become
commercially available [elsewhere]… and we propose that these [22nd
Century Group] cigarettes, which actually assist smokers to quit
and which can reduce tobacco addiction, merit a lower rate of
excise [tax] to make them available at a lower price than other
(addictive) cigarettes.” New Zealand Medical Journal 14th December
2012, Volume 125 Number 1367. In the same article, Dr. Laugesen
also cited the many independent, scientific clinical trials that
have shown that the use of 22nd Century’s proprietary Very Low
Nicotine tobacco cigarettes results in reduced cigarette
consumption, reduced nicotine exposure, and increased rates of
smoking cessation.
To date, there have been seven independent clinical studies
using 22nd Century’s proprietary Very Low Nicotine tobacco
cigarettes. The following two clinical studies were conducted in
New Zealand, the third clinical study was recently published in The
New England Journal of Medicine:
- 2009 randomized trial by Dr. Natalie
Walker, et al. conducted in New Zealand among smokers seeking to
quit and utilizing 22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes
concluded that a reduction in the level of nicotine in cigarette
tobacco can reduce the level of nicotine dependence in smokers and
do so without adverse effects on cardiovascular biomarkers or
significant compensatory smoking.
- 2014 randomized trial by Dr. Natalie
Walker, et al. conducted in New Zealand found that among smokers
unmotivated to quit, and in contrast to smokers of conventional
cigarettes, smokers of 22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes
reduced cigarette consumption, reduced nicotine exposure, and
increased quitting.
- 2015 double-blind, parallel, randomized
clinical trial by Dr. Eric Donny, et al. published in the October
2015 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine found that
smokers of 22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes reduced
their nicotine exposure, nicotine dependency, and cigarettes smoked
per day. These same smokers reported little evidence of negative
effects (including compensatory smoking). Smokers of 22nd Century’s
Very Low Nicotine cigarettes were also twice as likely to attempt
quitting.
“Reducing the nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels is
a promising regulatory strategy to drastically reduce the harm
caused by smoking,” explained Henry Sicignano, III, President and
Chief Executive Officer at 22nd Century Group. “We believe that
22nd Century’s proprietary Very Low Nicotine cigarettes will be an
invaluable public health tool; we stand ready to assist New Zealand
in its progressive and pragmatic approach to a national nicotine
reduction policy.”
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century is a plant biotechnology company focused on
technology which 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 200
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 and
www.magiccigarettes.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, including but not limited to our future revenue
expectations. 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
fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on February 5, 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/20160203005820/en/
Investor Relations:IRTH CommunicationsAndrew Haag,
866-976-4784xxii@irthcommunications.comorRedington, Inc.Tom
Redington, 203-222-7399
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