PTO Issues New Patent to Star Scientific Covering Synthesis of Anatabine

GLEN ALLEN, Va., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGX) announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") has issued Patent No. 8,207,346 (the "346 patent") to the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  This patent covers an improved method for synthesizing anatabine that facilitates large scale commercial production of high purity anatabine.   Anatabine citrate is the active ingredient in Anatabloc®, the dietary supplement manufactured by Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals that is designed to support the immune system in maintaining healthy levels of inflammation.  As previously announced, the PTO issued a Notice of Allowance on May 11, 2012 to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals for this synthesis process; however, today's issuance marks an official grant of the patent to the company.  

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This is the second patent issued this year that Star Scientific owns directly as patentee or has rights to through its exclusive licensing agreement.  On April 10, 2012 the PTO issued Patent No. 8,151,804 (the "804" patent), covering an improved method for curing tobacco in a manner that substantially prevents the formation of tobacco specific nitrosamines.  With the addition of the '346 and '804 patents, Star Scientific now has a portfolio of fourteen U.S. patents and one U.S. design patent. 

Star Scientific is pursuing additional U.S. patent applications through Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals covering anatabine salts, dietary formulations containing anatabine, and methods of administering anatabine for the nutritional management of disorders associated with unhealthy levels of inflammation.   

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
[email protected]

SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.