22nd Century Group, Inc. Announces Allowance of U.S. Patent For Regulating Nicotine in Tobacco Using Transcription Factor Gene

CLARENCE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XXII) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for technology that decreases or increases nicotine production and levels in tobacco plants by using nucleic acids derived from a transcription factor gene identified as NbTF7 – also known as NbARF1. NbTF7 simultaneously regulates the expression of multiple nicotine biosynthesis genes.

The transcription factor technology is one of several 22nd Century patent families representing the company’s second-generation technology for modifying the content of nicotine and other nicotinic alkaloids in the tobacco plant. 22nd Century’s Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Michael Moynihan stated, “We are very pleased that the USPTO has allowed this patent. Modification of transcription factor expression provides a means of regulating the entire nicotine pathway. We believe there will be tremendous commercial opportunities for both our very low nicotine and our higher nicotine tobacco varieties.”

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