Pioneer of Altered Nicotine Tobacco to Give Keynote Address at 22nd Century Group’s Annual Shareholder Meeting

CLARENCE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII),
a plant biotechnology company that is a leader in tobacco harm
reduction, announced today that Michael
P. Timko, PhD, Professor of Biology and Public Health Sciences at
The University of Virginia, will present the keynote address at 22nd
Century Group’s annual shareholder meeting. The shareholder meeting will
be held on Saturday April 30, 2016 at 1:00PM at the Buffalo
Club in downtown Buffalo, New York. The annual meeting will be open
to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 8, 2016.

Professor Timko is a biochemist and molecular biologist who has studied
tobacco genomics and tobacco related health issues for more than more
than 30 years. He is a pioneer in the field of altering nicotine levels
in tobacco. Professor Timko’s landmark research has revealed a large
number of novel gene targets which may lead to important tobacco harm
reduction and smoking cessation products. Currently directing 22nd
Century’s innovative Brand B high nicotine tobacco project at the
University of Virginia, Professor Timko is a key part of the Company’s
initiative to develop a new generation of reduced-harm tobacco products.

Professor Timko’s experience is unique in the field of tobacco harm
reduction in that he works on both plant biology and human
biology. In addition to manipulating nicotine levels in tobacco plants,
his laboratory has developed human cell models for the evaluation of
risk potential in tobacco and tobacco-less alternative products.

Professor Timko has authored or co-authored more than 150 research
papers, book chapters and review articles including seminal works on the
regulation of nicotine production in tobacco plants. His group also
produced the TOBFAC database, which is the world’s largest database of
regulatory genes from tobacco. Professor Timko’s research efforts have
generated multiple US and world-wide patents in agricultural and
nutritional biotechnology.

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,
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.

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