The company will expand its VLN® Tobacco Growing Program to support the anticipated demand of its reduced nicotine content cigarettes, according to a company press release.

Leading plant-based biotechnology company 22nd Century Group, Inc. has announced that it will be expanding its growing program for VLN® reduced nicotine content tobacco based on the company’s latest sales projections. In partnership with select tobacco farmers, 22nd Century will plant the new VLN® tobacco throughout the U.S. tobacco belt, thereby creating a new income stream for America’s struggling family farmers, states the press release. The Company’s proprietary, reduced nicotine content tobacco contains, on average, just 0.5 milligrams of nicotine per gram of tobacco – a reduction in nicotine versus conventional cigarette tobaccos which often contain 20 mg to 30 mg nicotine per gram of tobacco.
According to the press release, 22nd Century’s Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) application for VLN® cigarettes is currently in the final stage of review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once authorization is granted, 22nd Century will begin marketing its VLN® cigarettes, which contain 95 per cent less nicotine than conventional cigarette brands.
“We are prepared to launch our VLN® cigarettes within 90 days after receiving marketing authorization from the FDA,” said James A. Mish, chief executive officer of 22nd Century Group. “There are more than 34 million smokers in the United States and research shows that a majority of these smokers are looking for alternatives. […] We believe adult smokers will be very interested in VLN®, and this new crop of VLN® tobacco will help us to fulfil the expected demand based on our latest sales projections.”