22nd Century Group, Inc. Announces U.S. Patent Issues for MPO Nicotine Biosynthesis Gene

CLARENCE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--22nd Century Group, Inc. (OTCBB: XXII), a company that has developed groundbreaking technology for tobacco harm reduction products, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US PTO) has issued Patent No. 8,410,341 for the N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) gene technology. MPO is essential for production of nicotine in the tobacco plant. As previously announced, the US PTO issued a Notice of Allowance on December 24, 2012 for this technology; however, yesterday’s issuance marks the official grant of the patent.