Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals and GNC Expand Anatabloc® Relationship to Nationwide Retail Store Distribution

GLEN ALLEN, Va., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGX), today announced that it has expanded its partnership with GNC, the global health and wellness retailer that specializes in premium, value-added nutritional products. Beginning today, customers will be able to purchase Anatabloc® nationwide at GNC retail locations which includes Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Anatabloc® has been available to consumers since February through GNC's internet storefront: www.gnc.com. Anatabloc® assists the body's natural process for regulating inflammation using an alkaloid found in plants and vegetables, in combination with Vitamins A and D3, to help maintain healthy levels of inflammation. Anatabloc® was introduced in August 2011 through a dedicated product website: http://www.anatabloc.com.

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Since Anatabloc's® introduction to the gnc.com website in February, Anatabloc® has been GNC's top-selling dietary supplement for anti-inflammatory support.  The positive sales results to date made it a natural move for GNC to expand distribution of Anatabloc® into their retail stores throughout the country.

Anatabloc® will now be available in every major city across the country, and more than 10,000 GNC trained sales associates will able to introduce Anatabloc® to their customers.  GNC's 4000-plus company-owned or franchised stores either already have Anatabloc® in stock or can order the product immediately.  GNC Gold Card members who purchase Anatabloc® at retail stores also will be able to buy the product for $79.99 during the first seven days of every month - the same offer extended to GNC Internet customers.

"The game has now changed as we expand our partnership nationwide with GNC to include sales of Anatabloc® at its retail stores, and to market our product to a broader customer base.  We are gratified that Anatabloc® is now a valuable addition to the GNC product line," said David Dean, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Star Scientific, Inc. "We look forward to a successful partnership for both companies and to helping customers enhance the quality of their health."

Professional golfer Fred Couples, a 32-year veteran of the PGA Tour with over 50 professional tournament wins, announced his partnership with Anatabloc® in February as Rock Creek's first Brand Ambassador: he now wears the Anatabloc® logo on the sleeve of his shirts and sweaters at all tournaments, as he did last week when he won the PGA Champions Tour's Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic tournament.  Couples has also agreed to become the face of Anatabloc® with GNC, in light of the expanded relationship between GNC and Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals. Millions of Americans follow Fred's progress on the golf course, and he is happy to share with them both his positive results and the hope that Anatabloc® could be the answer to help those who want to return to an active lifestyle.

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, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, including the continued development and market acceptance of our nutraceuticals, 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 nutraceuticals, 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 is a technology-oriented company with a mission to reduce the harm associated with tobacco at every level. It is engaged in the development of dissolvable smokeless tobacco products that deliver fewer carcinogenic toxins, principally through the utilization of the innovative StarCured® tobacco curing technology. Its subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is involved in the development of nutraceutical products, as well as products to address neurological and mood disorders. 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:
Sara Troy Machir
301-654-8300
[email protected]

Raushanna Salhi
Book Hill Partners
202-289-3636
[email protected]

SOURCE Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.