22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes Reduce Smoking and Are Now Associated with Reduced Alcohol Use
June 28 2016 - 9:45AM
Business Wire
New study suggests that 22nd Century’s
Proprietary Very Low Nicotine cigarettes may actually have two
positive effects on public health.
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XXII), a plant biotechnology
company that is a leader in tobacco harm reduction, announced today
that the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research has
published a new independent study concluding that switching to the
Company’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes may lead not only to a
reduction in smoking, but also to a reduction in alcohol use. This
study employed 22nd Century’s proprietary SPECTRUM® research
cigarettes and was funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA), the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, and the National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research study
employed data collected as a part of the landmark study by Donny et
al. that was published in the October 2015 issue of The New England
Journal of Medicine. Led by Sarah S. Dermody, the study closely
followed the alcohol consumption behavior of 403 study
participants, and concluded that a national “nicotine reduction
standard could further improve public health by reducing alcohol
use among individuals who reduce their nicotine exposure and
smoking rate. Specifically, VLNC [Very Low Nicotine Content]
cigarette use significantly reduced nicotine exposure, which, in
turn, was associated with reduced alcohol use.”
This important clinical study lays to rest the thought that one
consequence of reducing nicotine in cigarettes to a very low level
could be an unintended increase in the amount of alcohol consumed,
especially among heavy or binge drinkers. In contrast, the study
suggested that a reduction in nicotine to very low levels may
actually have two positive effects on public health – a reduction
in smoking and a reduction in alcohol consumption. The study adds
“…regulation reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may reduce
alcohol use specifically through its effects on nicotine and
cigarette exposure.”
22nd Century’s Vice President for Plant Biotechnology, Dr. Paul
Rushton explained, “The evidence now clearly shows that switching
to a very low nicotine cigarette from a normal nicotine cigarette
has a multitude of health benefits. Not only do patients reduce
their smoking rates, but Dermody’s new study suggests that, these
same patients are likely to reduce their alcohol consumption as
well. Best of all, patients experience both of these benefits
before they even try to quit smoking.”
Dermody, et al. concluded by reporting:
“…this study demonstrated that a reduced
nicotine product standard could positively impact related health
risk behaviors like drinking. Among many smokers, it appears that
reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes would not lead to
compensatory drinking. Instead, over time through a combination of
reduced nicotine exposure and smoking behavior, a broader positive
impact on public health may be observed through corresponding
reductions in alcohol use.”
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. Visit www.xxiicentury.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, 2015, filed on February 18, 2016,
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.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160628005078/en/
Investor Relations:IRTH CommunicationsAndrew Haag,
866-976-4784xxii@irthcommunications.comorRedington, Inc.Tom
Redington, 203-222-7399
22nd Century (AMEX:XXII)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
22nd Century (AMEX:XXII)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024