Star Scientific , Inc. Announces Allowance of Patent Claims Covering Products for Weight Loss and Reduction in Tobacco Use

GLEN ALLEN, Va., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGX) announced that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for claims covering a product formulation that, among other uses, assists in weight loss and also the reduction of tobacco use. Application No. 12/826,985, entitled "Nutritional Product Containing Anatabine and Yerba Mate," describes and claims compositions containing a combination of anatabine and yerba mate, as well as the uses of those compositions for assisting in weight loss and in curbing the urge to use tobacco. The Notice of Allowance was issued on July 3, 2012, to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, the company's wholly owned subsidiary. As is typical in the patent examination process, the Notice of Allowance was issued after the company satisfactorily responded to two prior USPTO office actions. A written patent will be issued by the USPTO within the next several months.

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Paul L Perito, Esq, Chairman, President, and Chief Operating Officer of Star Scientific noted, "We are very pleased that the Patent and Trademark Office will issue a second patent to the company this year relating to anatabine and its uses. As we noted in reporting on the issuance of a patent for the synthesis of anatabine (Patent No. 8,207,346), we continue to pursue other patents relating to product formulations containing anatabine and methods of administering anatabine for the nutritional management of disorders associated with unhealthy levels of inflammation. When this patent issues, the company will have a portfolio of fifteen U.S. patents and one U.S. design patent."

Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, including the continued development and market acceptance of our nutraceutical and low-TSNA tobacco products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, including with respect to our nutraceutical and low-TSNA tobacco products, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time.

About Star Scientific

Star Scientific, Inc. is a technology-oriented company with a mission to promote maintenance of a healthy metabolism, as well as to reduce the harm associated with the use of tobacco at every level. Over the last several years, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Star Scientific has been engaged in the manufacturing, sale, and marketing of two nutraceutical dietary supplements, and the development of other nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The company also has continued to pursue the development, implementation, and licensing of the technology behind its proprietary StarCured® tobacco curing process, which substantially prevents the formation of carcinogenic toxins present in tobacco and tobacco smoke, primarily the tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs and related low-TSNA dissolvable tobacco products. Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals has scientific and research offices in Gloucester, MA, and a regulatory office in Washington, DC. Star Scientific has a Corporate and Sales Office in Glen Allen, VA, an Executive, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs office in Bethesda, MD, and a manufacturing facility in Chase City, VA.

Contact:

Talhia T. Tuck
Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
Star Scientific, Inc.
(301) 654-8300
ttuck@starscientific.com

SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.