17 April, 2019

22nd Century Group – Key Patents have Expired!

by Fuzzy Panda Research
in 22nd Century Group

Fuzzy Panda Research is Short XXII since we discovered that the most important patents in XXII’s patent portfolio have now expired.

  • XXII’s Key QPT patents behind the tobacco used in their MRTP & PMTA applications expired in 2018.
  • QPT expired patents are the essential patents behind the Vector 21-41 tobacco strain.
  • Patent Expiration explains why BAT was not willing to pay $3 million to have an exclusive license.
  • Big Tobacco companies already have a plethora of low-nicotine tobacco patents and can adhere to FDA low-nicotine standards and now they can produce a similar plant to XXII’s Vector 21-41 tobacco strain.
  • Lawsuit accusing XXII, CEO Henry Sicignano, and Trey Prevost (a felon) of stealing and copying the intellectual property of Global Tobacco LLC.
  • XXII was exposed by Sharesleuth as having fake positive article written about them, XXII engages in paid stock promotion, XXII’s IR firm IRTH Communications has been caught doing boiler room style calls, and XXII still has an on-going undisclosed SEC investigation.

From the evidence we uncovered, we believe that these expired patents (the QPT family of patents) are the primary patents behind the Brand A/VLN (very low nicotine) cigarettes.  Those who have been tracking XXII for a while know that Brand A/VLN Cigs are the exact same cigarettes that XXII submitted their FDA applications for their MRTP (Modified Risk Tobacco Product) and PMTA (Premarket Tobacco Product Applications).  This patent expiration is important because it means that even if XXII were successful in getting FDA approvals, then Big Tobacco companies would be able to come out with similar products by developing their own tobacco plant strain using the expired patents.

The patent expiration finally explains why British American Tobacco walked away from their XXII license agreement 2 years ago.  As a reminder it would’ve cost BAT only $3 million in license fees for what XXII says is “game changing technology.”  BAT evidently didn’t think it was worth the cost and now we know why.

XXII Final – Key Patents have Expired