Proposed FDA Standard Could Avert 4.3 Million Deaths, $600 Billion in Annual Economic Damage Linked to Smoking VLNC Products Could Fully Supplant Conventional Highly Addictive Combusted Products in as Little as Two Years MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Sept. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that has for 27 years led and continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking driven by nicotine addiction, today announced submission of public comments ...

Core Insights - Premarket trading is showing notable activity with significant price movements indicating potential opportunities for traders [1] Premarket Gainers - PepGen Inc. (PEPG) is up 151% at $6.68 [3] - 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII) is up 27% at $1.93 [3] - Immuneering Corporation (IMRX) is up 23% at $11.36 [3] - uniQure N.V. (QURE) is up 10% at $52.58 [3] - Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) is up 9% at $6.60 [3] - Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (JSPR) is up 9% at $2.55 [3] - American Shared Hospital Services (AMS) is up 8% at $2.75 [3] - PSQ Holdings, Inc. (PSQH) is up 7% at $3.06 [3] - K Wave Media Ltd. (KWM) is up 7% at $2.48 [3] - ClearPoint Neuro, Inc. (CLPT) is up 5% at $20.48 [3] Premarket Losers - Transocean Ltd. (RIG) is down 14% at $3.11 [4] - Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (CYCN) is down 12% at $2.83 [4] - CarMax, Inc. (KMX) is down 11% at $50.38 [4] - ARB IOT Group Limited (ARBB) is down 11% at $10.45 [4] - SHF Holdings, Inc. (SHFS) is down 10% at $6.49 [4] - Digital Brands Group, Inc. (DBGI) is down 10% at $6.21 [4] - Aqua Metals, Inc. (AQMS) is down 9% at $5.29 [4] - Akanda Corp. (AKAN) is down 8% at $3.96 [4] - Galecto, Inc. (GLTO) is down 8% at $3.88 [4] - Platinum Analytics Cayman Limited (PLTS) is down 7% at $11.12 [4]

Shares of 22nd Century Group Inc. XXII jumped 39.07% in pre-market trading, reaching $2.10, after the company revealed it had secured a $9.5 million insurance settlement. This agreement resolves all business interruption claims tied to the Grass Valley incident that occurred in November 2022.Check out the current price of XXII stock here.Company Achieves Debt-Free StatusThe settlement marks a significant turning point for the tobacco products company, which is now free of debt. CEO Larry Firestone said, "We ...

Non-dilutive Cash Puts Growth Capital and Runway to Breakeven on the Balance Sheet Company is Positioned to Drive to Profitability in 2026 MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Sept. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that has for 27 years led and continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking driven by nicotine addiction, today announced that it has reached an agreement to settle all claims for business interruption related to the Grass Valley inci ...

Core Viewpoint - Premarket trading is showing notable activity with significant price movements indicating potential investment opportunities before the market opens [1] Premarket Gainers - AGM Group Holdings Inc. (AGMH) increased by 185% to $6.36 [3] - AlphaVest Acquisition Corp (ATMV) rose by 77% to $26.80 [3] - Brera Holdings PLC (BREA) saw a 20% increase to $30.00 [3] - Asset Entities Inc. (ASST) gained 18% to $4.54 [3] - 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII) also increased by 18% to $2.08 [3] - Millennium Group International Holdings Limited (MGIH) rose by 16% to $2.84 [3] - Robo.ai Inc. (AIIO) increased by 11% to $2.17 [3] - Butterfly Network, Inc. (BFLY) saw a 10% rise to $2.10 [3] - GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF) increased by 9% to $13.91 [3] - Cardlytics, Inc. (CDLX) rose by 8% to $2.99 [3] Premarket Losers - ECD Automotive Design, Inc. (ECDA) decreased by 14% to $3.70 [4] - Champions Oncology, Inc. (CSBR) fell by 8% to $6.11 [4] - Beam Global (BEEM) saw an 8% decline to $2.79 [4] - Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM) decreased by 8% to $2.19 [4] - Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (VTYX) fell by 7% to $2.20 [4] - SciSparc Ltd. (SPRC) decreased by 6% to $4.35 [4] - Lightwave Logic, Inc. (LWLG) fell by 6% to $3.45 [4] - Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (JSPR) decreased by 6% to $2.43 [4] - StableX Technologies, Inc. (SBLX) fell by 5% to $5.67 [4] - Galecto, Inc. (GLTO) decreased by 5% to $2.70 [4]

Core Insights - 22nd Century Group has successfully repaid $3.9 million in senior secured debt, significantly reducing ongoing cash needs and operating costs by eliminating cash interest and amortization expenses [1][2] - The company has eliminated over $20 million in senior secured and subordinated debt since the current CEO joined, positioning itself for growth with a debt-free balance sheet [2] - The completion of the Series A convertible preferred stock offering and debt repayment has resulted in an approximate $9.1 million increase in adjusted pro forma net tangible book value, equating to about $1.05 per share [2] Financial Position - The company’s balance sheet now reflects working capital that supports the purchase of low nicotine leaf crops, enabling the production of more than 1 million cartons of VLN products [1][2] - Plans are in place to deploy a portion of capital to expand the inventory of very low nicotine tobacco leaf in Q4 2025 [2] Product and Technology - 22nd Century Group is pioneering the tobacco harm reduction movement with its proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants, which contain 95% less nicotine than traditional tobacco [4][5] - The flagship product, VLN cigarettes, provide traditional smokers with a familiar alternative that helps them control their nicotine consumption [5][6] - VLN cigarettes are the only low nicotine combustible cigarettes authorized by the FDA in the United States [6]

Core Insights - 22nd Century Group, Inc. is leading the nicotine harm reduction movement in the tobacco industry, focusing on helping smokers control their nicotine consumption [3][4] - The company will host investor meetings on September 9, 2025, during the HC Wainwright Conference in New York [1][2] Company Overview - 22nd Century Group has developed the VLN cigarette, which contains 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes, providing smokers with a familiar alternative to manage their nicotine intake [4][5] - The company utilizes proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco blends, supported by patented technologies that regulate nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco plants, ensuring a full flavor experience with lower nicotine levels [5] Product Details - VLN cigarettes are designed to allow consumers to significantly reduce their nicotine consumption while still enjoying a combustible cigarette format [4] - The extensive patent portfolio of 22nd Century Group secures its position as the only provider of low nicotine combustible cigarettes in the United States and key international markets [5]

Core Viewpoint - Emerging Growth Research released a quarterly update report on 22nd Century Group, indicating that the company missed expectations for Q2 2025 due to slower CMO stabilization and VLN® rollout timing, with EBITDA breakeven now projected for Q2 2026 [1][3]. Financial Performance - Q2 2025 revenue was $4.1 million, a decline of 49% year-over-year from $7.9 million in Q2 2024 and a 31% sequential decrease from $6.0 million in Q1 2025 [8]. - Gross loss remained stable at $(0.6) million compared to $(0.6) million in Q1 2025 [8]. - Operating loss increased to $(3.0) million from $(2.6) million in Q1 2025 due to higher VLN® promotional spending [8]. - EBITDA was $(2.8) million compared to $(2.5) million in Q1 2025 [8]. - Net debt was significantly reduced to $0.7 million from $3.3 million in Q4 2024 following a warrant exercise that generated $5.1 million in proceeds [4][8]. Strategic Focus and Growth Potential - The company is focusing on higher-margin operations and has significant long-term growth potential, with revenue growth expectations of +127% in 2026, +68% in 2027, and +39% in 2028 driven by VLN® market penetration in the $12 billion tobacco market [5][3]. - VLN® cigarettes are now shipping following state registrations, with management noting that only 223,000 cartons (5% of production capacity) are needed for breakeven profitability [4]. Management and Restructuring - New management has undertaken operational restructuring since 2023, divesting certain business lines to concentrate on contract manufacturing operations (CMO) and the VLN® product line [9]. - The company is positioned as a pure-play contract manufacturer for combustible tobacco products and the sole provider of VLN® reduced-nicotine cigarettes [9].

Summary of 22nd Century Group (XXII) Conference Call - August 20, 2025 Company Overview - **Company Name**: 22nd Century Group Inc. - **Ticker Symbol**: XXII - **Industry**: Tobacco, specifically focused on nicotine harm reduction - **Market Position**: Leader in the tobacco harm reduction movement since 1998, aligned with FDA's low nicotine mandate [1][2][3] Key Industry Insights - **Tobacco Market Size**: - Global market: $1.1 trillion in annual sales, with $873 billion from cigarette sales [4] - U.S. market: $109 billion in annual sales, with $83 billion from cigarette sales [4] - **Smoker Statistics**: - 1.1 billion smokers globally, with 28.8 million in the U.S. [4] - 8 million annual deaths globally due to smoking-related health conditions [4] - U.S. smoking-related deaths: approximately 480,000 annually [4] - **Market Growth**: U.S. tobacco industry projected to grow to $180 billion by 2030, representing an 8.15% CAGR [5] Core Company Strategies - **Product Focus**: - Emphasis on low nicotine (VLN) products, which are positioned to compete with traditional combustible cigarettes and other nicotine delivery systems [11][12] - Development of a diverse portfolio including VLN cigarettes, moist snuff, and other tobacco products [26] - **Regulatory Alignment**: - Fully compliant with FDA's proposed rule for low nicotine content (0.7 mg/g), which is expected to significantly reduce nicotine addiction [14][42] - **Research and Development**: - Ongoing research into non-GMO low nicotine tobacco and its potential to lower harmful nitrosamines [16][30] - Independent studies showing that 40% of participants reduced their smoking habits using VLN products [17] Financial Strategy and Performance - **Shift in Business Model**: - Transitioning away from high-volume, low-margin contract manufacturing to focus on branded products [25][31] - Anticipated lower revenues in the short term as the company prioritizes gross profit and margins [25] - **Future Financial Goals**: - Targeting cash flow breakeven by 2026 [48] - Maintaining operating expenses around $2 million per quarter [31] Market Launch and Distribution - **Product Launch**: - VLN products are set to launch in 2,000 retail outlets across 30 states, with plans for nationwide distribution [27][39] - Marketing strategies include extensive consumer communication and in-store promotions [22] - **Retail Partnerships**: - Engaging with major retailers for broader distribution once state approvals are secured [39][28] Additional Insights - **Public Health Concerns**: - Addressing issues of nicotine addiction and the impact of smoking on public health, particularly among youth [6][8] - **Industry Dynamics**: - The company positions itself as a leader in the transition towards reduced nicotine products, similar to the shift from leaded to unleaded gasoline [47] - **Government Support**: - No direct government funding anticipated; the company relies on independent research to validate its products [37][38] Conclusion - **Outlook**: - The company is optimistic about its future, focusing on growth in the VLN segment and aligning with regulatory changes to capture market share [32][50]

Core Viewpoint - 22nd Century Group, Inc. is leading the tobacco harm reduction movement with its VLN products, which are designed to significantly reduce nicotine consumption and help smokers manage their addiction [1][14]. Group 1: Product Development and Market Adoption - The company has successfully launched VLN cigarettes, which contain 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes, and have been proven to reduce nicotine consumption [14][15]. - Early adoption of VLN products has been seen with partner brands Smoker Friendly and Pinnacle, with initial stocking orders shipped in August 2025 [2][7]. - The company is expanding its product offerings to include 100mm cigarettes and international versions tailored to consumer preferences [9]. Group 2: Regulatory Landscape - The FDA has proposed a new Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Yield, setting a maximum nicotine content of 0.7mg/g, which is supported by clinical documentation and real-world testing of VLN products [4][5]. - The proposed regulation has garnered strong support from public health advocates, emphasizing the importance of reducing nicotine levels in tobacco products [6]. Group 3: Research and Development - Ongoing research is investigating the link between non-GMO low nicotine tobacco genetics and lower levels of harmful Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are potent carcinogens [11]. - The company is committed to expanding its intellectual property portfolio in low nicotine genetics, enhancing its leadership in tobacco harm reduction [12]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The company aims to continue its mission of providing low nicotine technology and products that can improve public health and potentially save lives [13].