Mandating a Reduction in the Nicotine Content of Cigarettes Would Likely Decrease Both the Rate and Prevalence of Smoking

CLARENCE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII),
a leader in tobacco harm reduction, announced today that Addiction
Journal published online a
new report investigating smokers’ cost sensitivity for Very Low
Nicotine cigarettes. Led by Dr. Eric C. Donny of the University of
Pittsburg Cancer Institute, the new publication found that, compared to
conventional cigarettes, 22nd Century’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes
reduced the number of cigarettes that the participants estimated they
would smoke at every price range tested. This Phase III study
included 839 participants who, over a 6-week period, first smoked their
own brand and then were assigned to smoke one of five different nicotine
content cigarettes. The researchers exclusively employed 22nd Century’s
SPECTRUM® brand cigarettes for their study. SPECTRUM® research
cigarettes are provided through the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Given that all previous trials investigating nicotine reduction
behaviors have provided free cigarettes to clinical study participants,
the authors studied the impact of a nicotine reduction policy within
the real-world context of “normally priced” cigarettes. The study
findings were compelling. Smokers of the lowest nicotine content group
(SPECTRUM® 0.4mg/g) reported that at $10/pack they would smoke only 4
cigarettes per day while smokers in the control group reported a
consumption rate of 10 cigarettes per day – a 60% differential. The
authors went on to predict that “… if a nicotine reduction policy were
enacted, there would be an increase in smoking cessation.”

Dr. Donny, et al. recommended that for Very Low Nicotine
cigarettes “…to be maximally effective at reducing nicotine exposure and
dependence,” policy makers would need to establish either a preferential
tax structure for Very Low Nicotine cigarettes, or simply set a maximum
nicotine content for all cigarettes.

In conclusion, Dr. Donny, et al. stated that “These data
suggest that a policy mandating a reduction in nicotine content of
cigarettes would likely decrease both the rate and prevalence of
smoking.” And if Very Low Nicotine cigarettes were available
exclusively, study scientists found that 51% of participants who smoked
the Very Low Nicotine cigarettes predicted that they would simply stop
smoking within twelve months. An additional 25% reported that they would
continue to smoke but would smoke less. 22nd Century is the only company
in the world capable of producing Very Low Nicotine tobacco cigarettes
with 95% less nicotine than conventional brands – without any artificial
extraction or chemical processes.

“It is gratifying to know that so many scientists and researchers around
the world are expounding the public health benefits of 22nd Century’s
Very Low Nicotine cigarettes; that said, the FDA, alone, has the power
to initiate a national nicotine policy in the United States,” noted
Henry Sicignano, III, President and Chief Executive Officer at 22nd
Century Group. “Putting politics aside, we believe that 22nd Century’s
Very Low Nicotine cigarettes could be tremendously important to smokers
everywhere.”

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.

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2016, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and our other
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