Star Scientific Appoints New Vice President for Communications and Investor Relations

GLEN ALLEN, Va., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGX) today announced the appointment of Ms. Talhia T. Tuck as the company's new Vice President for Communications and Investor Relations as of April 18, 2012.  Ms. Tuck will assume the position previously held by Ms. Sara T. Machir since 2003.  Ms. Tuck has a broad range of media and public relations skills as a result of her prior experiences in TV and print journalism, which started in 2001 when she was a researcher for the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in New York City.  Subsequently, she returned to Washington, D.C. as an Assistant Producer for The Chris Matthew Show where she was part of the original team that launched that nationally syndicated political talk show in 2002-2003.  From that experience, Ms. Tuck was hired by a CBS affiliate in South Florida to be an on-air TV News Reporter for Station WINK, which provides news coverage for major stories in the southwest Florida area.  Thereafter, she returned to New York City to assume the position as a story editor for ABC News 20/20 and Primetime Live shows. 

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Her multiple work experiences in TV journalism were preceded by her position at Goldman-Sachs as a financial analyst to senior management.  Another broadening communications experience was her position as an Admissions Officer and Co-Director of the Undergraduate Admissions Council (UAC) at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass after she graduated Cum Laude, from Harvard College, in June, 2000.  During college she was a member of the editorial staff of the Harvard Crimson.

Ms. Tuck entered Harvard Law School (HLS) in 2007 from which she subsequently graduated in June, 2010.  While at HLS she was a member of the Editorial Staff of the Harvard Law and Policy Review.  Thereafter, she became an Admissions Fellow at HLS.  Upon graduation, she participated in the Ropes & Gray New Alternatives Program (NAP) as a Fellow in the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office in Rockville, MD and, at the conclusion of the fellowship, she joined the Ropes & Gray firm as an Associate in the Corporate Department.

Paul L. Perito, Chairman, President and COO of Star Scientific said that "Ms. Tuck's unique TV and print journalistic background, coupled with her financial analyst and corporate experiences at Goldman-Sachs and subsequently Ropes & Gray cause her to be ideally qualified to develop  enhanced communications strategies for our informed and growing shareholder base.  She also has the essential skills to build out the company's communications programs working in conjunction with our sales and marketing group, which will balance the challenging issues of regulatory compliance with the sharing of appropriate public information in response to the expanding market for our Anatabloc® dietary supplement."

Mr. Perito further commented that "there will be a seamless succession in light of the fact that Sara Machir, who has served our company well, will consult with Ms. Tuck during the transition period. We have valued Ms. Machir's contributions to the company over the past twelve years."  Ms. Machir, who joined Star in 2000, has formed Cebra Consulting, LLC.,  which offers strategic consulting and advice to a range of clients that includes Star Scientific.  Ms. Machir resigned her position with the company effective March 30, 2012.

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 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 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 nutraceuticals 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:
Paul L. Perito
Chairman, President & COO
Star Scientific, Inc.
(301) 654-8300

SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.