22nd Century Delivers Proprietary Research Cigarettes for U.S. Government Order

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--22nd Century Group, Inc. (OTCBB: XXII), a company focused on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction products, announced today that the company has shipped more than 9 million SPECTRUM^® research cigarettes. SPECTRUM^® was developed by 22nd Century for the U.S. government and is strictly for independent research purposes. SPECTRUM^® will not be sold as a commercial cigarette in the U.S.

“Working with these researchers and officials from federal public health agencies has been a terrific experience. Throughout the process, the investigators provided 22nd Century input on their research objectives and shared insights into what types of cigarettes would best facilitate their independent studies”

The SPECTRUM^® product line essentially consists of a series of cigarette styles that have a fixed “tar” yield but varying nicotine yields over a 35-fold range—from very low to high. Altogether, SPECTRUM^® features 24 styles, in both regular and menthol versions, with 8 levels of nicotine in its tobacco. By far, the most prevalent style of SPECTRUM^® produced for researchers is the very low nicotine (VLN) version, which has 97% less nicotine than conventional “light” cigarettes.

As the only company in the world able to produce VLN tobacco products, 22nd Century was chosen to supply its proprietary SPECTRUM^® research cigarettes as a subcontractor under a 5-year federal government contract. Previously, 22nd Century’s management met with independent researchers and officials from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discuss and finalize certain design features of these research cigarettes.

“Working with these researchers and officials from federal public health agencies has been a terrific experience. Throughout the process, the investigators provided 22nd Century input on their research objectives and shared insights into what types of cigarettes would best facilitate their independent studies,” stated Joseph Pandolfino, founder and chief executive officer of 22nd Century.

Dozens of research studies will be conducted with SPECTRUM^®. The research will include: (i) smoking cessation studies, (ii) exposure studies comparing how different nicotine levels in cigarettes affect smoking behavior and exposure to smoke toxins, and (iii) studies to determine whether there is a threshold nicotine level in cigarettes which does not produce dependence. Many of these studies would be very difficult, if not impossible, to conduct without SPECTRUM^®.

Mr. Pandolfino added, “22nd Century is pleased that SPECTRUM^® will be used to provide answers to important research questions likely to affect tobacco public policy for years to come. I am optimistic that the results of these studies will be applied to reduce the harm caused by smoking—the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the world, according to the CDC and the World Health Organization.”

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

Founded in 1998, 22nd Century Limited, LLC (22nd Century) is a plant biotechnology company whose proprietary technology allows for the level of nicotine (and other nicotinic alkaloids) in the tobacco plant to be decreased or increased through genetic engineering and breeding. 22nd Century owns or is the exclusive worldwide licensee of 98 issued patents in 79 countries where at least 75% of the world’s smokers reside. 22nd Century is committed to developing and commercializing (i) the world’s most effective and acceptable smoking cessation aid and (ii) for those smokers who refuse to quit smoking, consumer-acceptable modified risk tobacco products that reduce exposure to smoke toxins, as compared to conventional cigarettes. Through a merger on January 25, 2011, 22nd Century became a wholly-owned subsidiary of 22nd Century Group, Inc.

For additional information, please visit: www.xxiicentury.com.

Safe-Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the company, its directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this press release. The words “may,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company’s ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including the “Risk Factors” disclosed in the company’s reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, including the company’s Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on September 20, 2011 and potential uncertainties regarding the number of studies and uses of Spectrum research cigarettes.