Mandating a Reduction in the Nicotine Content of Cigarettes Would Likely Decrease Both the Rate and Prevalence of Smoking
November 02 2016 - 8:45AM
Business Wire
51% of participants who smoked 22nd
Century’s Very Low Nicotine cigarettes predicted that they would
quit within one year
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.
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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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161102005545/en/
Investor Relations:IRTH CommunicationsAndrew Haag,
866-976-4784xxii@irthcommunications.comorRedington, Inc.Tom
Redington, 203-222-7399
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