22nd Century Announces First Shipments of Pinnacle VLN® Products to Top 5 C-Store Chain Locations Across 12 States
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) announced the initial shipments of its Pinnacle VLN® Gold and Pinnacle VLN® Menthol reduced nicotine cigarettes. The products will launch on September 1, 2025 across nearly 1,000 locations in 12 states through a top-5 U.S. convenience store chain.
The Pinnacle VLN® cigarettes contain 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes, meeting the FDA's proposed standard of less than 0.7 mg/g nicotine content. These products are the first and only FDA-authorized combusted cigarettes specifically designed to reduce nicotine intake, supported by extensive clinical research demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing smoking habits.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) ha annunciato le spedizioni iniziali delle sue sigarette a ridotto contenuto di nicotina Pinnacle VLN® Gold e Pinnacle VLN® Menthol. I prodotti saranno lanciati il 1° settembre 2025 in quasi 1.000 punti vendita in 12 stati attraverso una delle prime 5 catene di negozi di convenienza negli Stati Uniti.
Le sigarette Pinnacle VLN® contengono il 95% di nicotina in meno rispetto alle sigarette tradizionali, rispettando lo standard proposto dalla FDA di meno di 0,7 mg/g di nicotina. Questi prodotti sono le prime e uniche sigarette combustibili autorizzate dalla FDA specificamente progettate per ridurre l'assunzione di nicotina, supportate da ampie ricerche cliniche che ne dimostrano l'efficacia nel ridurre il consumo di sigarette.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) anunció los envíos iniciales de sus cigarrillos con nicotina reducida Pinnacle VLN® Gold y Pinnacle VLN® Menthol. Los productos se lanzarán el 1 de septiembre de 2025 en casi 1,000 ubicaciones en 12 estados a través de una cadena de tiendas de conveniencia estadounidense entre las cinco principales.
Los cigarrillos Pinnacle VLN® contienen un 95% menos de nicotina en comparación con los cigarrillos tradicionales, cumpliendo con el estándar propuesto por la FDA de menos de 0,7 mg/g de nicotina. Estos productos son los primeros y únicos cigarrillos combustibles autorizados por la FDA diseñados específicamente para reducir la ingesta de nicotina, respaldados por una amplia investigación clínica que demuestra su efectividad para disminuir el hábito de fumar.
22nd Century Group (나스닥: XXII)가 Pinnacle VLN® Gold 및 Pinnacle VLN® Menthol 저니코틴 담배의 초기 출하를 발표했습니다. 이 제품들은 2025년 9월 1일에 미국 12개 주의 거의 1,000개 매장에서 미국 상위 5위 편의점 체인을 통해 출시될 예정입니다.
Pinnacle VLN® 담배는 전통적인 담배에 비해 니코틴 함량이 95% 감소하여 FDA가 제안한 0.7 mg/g 미만의 니코틴 기준을 충족합니다. 이 제품들은 니코틴 섭취 감소를 위해 특별히 설계된 FDA 승인 최초이자 유일한 연소 담배로, 흡연 습관 감소에 효과가 있음을 입증하는 광범위한 임상 연구에 의해 뒷받침됩니다.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq : XXII) a annoncé les premières expéditions de ses cigarettes à nicotine réduite Pinnacle VLN® Gold et Pinnacle VLN® Menthol. Les produits seront lancés le 1er septembre 2025 dans près de 1 000 points de vente dans 12 États via une chaîne de magasins de proximité américaine classée parmi les cinq premières.
Les cigarettes Pinnacle VLN® contiennent 95 % de nicotine en moins par rapport aux cigarettes traditionnelles, respectant la norme proposée par la FDA de moins de 0,7 mg/g de nicotine. Ces produits sont les premières et uniques cigarettes combustibles autorisées par la FDA spécifiquement conçues pour réduire la consommation de nicotine, soutenues par de nombreuses recherches cliniques démontrant leur efficacité à réduire la consommation de tabac.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) hat die ersten Lieferungen seiner nikotinreduzierten Zigaretten Pinnacle VLN® Gold und Pinnacle VLN® Menthol angekündigt. Die Produkte werden am 1. September 2025 in nahezu 1.000 Verkaufsstellen in 12 Bundesstaaten über eine der Top-5 Convenience-Store-Ketten in den USA eingeführt.
Die Pinnacle VLN® Zigaretten enthalten 95 % weniger Nikotin im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Zigaretten und erfüllen den von der FDA vorgeschlagenen Grenzwert von weniger als 0,7 mg/g Nikotin. Diese Produkte sind die ersten und einzigen von der FDA zugelassenen verbrannten Zigaretten, die speziell zur Reduzierung der Nikotinaufnahme entwickelt wurden und durch umfangreiche klinische Studien unterstützt werden, die ihre Wirksamkeit bei der Verringerung des Rauchverhaltens belegen.
- First and only FDA-authorized combusted cigarettes for nicotine reduction
- Expansion to nearly 1,000 locations across 12 states
- Partnership with a top-5 U.S. convenience store chain
- Products comply with FDA's proposed new Tobacco Product Standard
- Strong existing brand loyalty through conventional Pinnacle product lines
- Initial rollout limited to 12 states
- Dependent on FDA's proposed mandate implementation
- Market acceptance of reduced nicotine products uncertain
Insights
22nd Century's Pinnacle VLN® reduced-nicotine cigarettes gaining distribution traction with major c-store chain, validating their FDA-compliant tobacco harm reduction strategy.
22nd Century Group (XXII) has secured a significant distribution win for its reduced nicotine cigarettes, with initial shipments of Pinnacle VLN® products heading to nearly 1,000 locations across 12 states at a top-5 US convenience store chain. Sales are expected to launch on September 1, 2025.
This represents the second early adopter partner for the company's VLN® brand, indicating growing retailer acceptance of their reduced nicotine concept. The strategic importance lies in how these products align with the FDA's proposed low nicotine mandate that would require combustible tobacco products to contain less than 0.7 mg/g of nicotine – a standard that VLN® products already meet.
What makes these products unique is their 95% reduction in nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes, using proprietary tobacco. The regulatory advantage is substantial – VLN® products are the first and only combusted cigarettes authorized by the FDA specifically to reduce nicotine intake and affect smoking habits, backed by clinical research.
From a business perspective, this launch expands 22nd Century's existing relationship with this retailer, which already carries their conventional Pinnacle cigarettes, cigarillos, and moist snuff products. The company's strategy to expand VLN® products across multiple brands positions them at the forefront of the tobacco harm reduction movement while potentially creating a competitive advantage should the FDA's proposed nicotine standards be implemented.
Pinnacle VLN® from 22nd Century Gains 2nd Early Adopter to Join Popular Pinnacle Branded Conventional Cigarette Products Already Sold at Top-5 U.S. C-Store Chain
MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Aug. 04, 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 the first shipments of its new Pinnacle VLN® Gold and Pinnacle VLN® Menthol reduced nicotine content cigarettes into distribution. These initial Pinnacle VLN® shipments will support a sales launch expected on September 1, 2025 at almost 1,000 locations across 12 states for a top-5 U.S. convenience store chain.
“Pinnacle’s conventional cigarette product lines have been very successful for this c-store chain, establishing strong brand loyalty with customers. We are excited to launch our new Pinnacle VLN® products, representing our second early adopter partner VLN® brand, expanding the reach and awareness of this innovative solution designed specifically to give smokers a choice with respect to their nicotine intake with an eye on improving public health,” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “This opportunity reinforces the validity of the FDA’s recent proposed low nicotine mandate that would require all combustible tobacco products to be less than 0.7 mg/g. A standard that VLN® products deliver on. This equates to roughly a
Additional Pinnacle VLN® states and locations for this c-store chain will continue to be added, plus re-order inventory with the c-store chain’s distributor. Pinnacle VLN® cigarettes expand the total Pinnacle branded product offerings which include conventional cigarettes, cigarillos and moist snuff, which are all supplied by 22nd Century.
VLN® products using proprietary tobacco grown with
“VLN® products from 22nd Century are the first and only combusted cigarette authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically to reduce nicotine intake and therefore affect the smoking habit, backed by extensive clinical research that shows a
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is pioneering the nicotine harm reduction movement in the tobacco industry enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption through combustible cigarettes.
We created our flagship product, the VLN® cigarette, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN® cigarettes have
Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco blends are made possible by comprehensive and patented technologies and tobacco plants that regulate nicotine biosynthesis activities in the tobacco plant, resulting in full flavor and high yield with
VLN® is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC.
Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on X (formerly Twitter), on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.
Learn more about VLN® at tryvln.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,” “promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our cost reduction initiatives, (ii) our expectations regarding regulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive an exemption from new regulations, (iii) our financial and operating performance and (iv) our expectations for our business interruption insurance claim. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 20, 2025 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2025. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations & Media Contact
Matt Kreps
Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
mkreps@xxiicentury.com
214-597-8200
FAQ
What is the nicotine reduction level in 22nd Century's Pinnacle VLN® cigarettes?
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What FDA authorization does XXII have for its VLN® products?
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How does Pinnacle VLN® align with FDA regulations?
