Star Scientific Statement on Tobacco Product Ingestion Study

GLEN ALLEN, Va., April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: CIGX) issued the following statement today by Paul L. Perito, the company's Chairman, President and COO:

"We observed the publication of a study on accidental ingestion of tobacco products by children on Monday, April 19, and the subsequent media campaign, with mounting disbelief.   The study, published in the online edition of the journal Pediatrics, purports to "assess the potential toxicity of novel smokeless tobacco products."  Data from the 2006-2008 annual reports of the American Association of Poison Control Centers were selectively examined and reported by the authors.  The study included, for example, the statement that "smokeless tobacco products were the second most common tobacco product ingested by children, after cigarettes."  While technically correct, it also is true that among 13,705 reports of accidental ingestion of tobacco products among children under six years of age, 13% (1768), were for smokeless tobacco, while  87% (10,740), reported ingestion of cigarettes, cigars and tips.  There were no reports of accidental ingestion of dissolvable smokeless tobacco products in the period 2006-2008.  During  the same three-year period,  reports of accidental exposure to nicotine replacement pharmaceutical products totaled 3,046, and 1,574, or 52% of those reports were for babies and children under the age of six.  On the other hand, in 2008 alone, there were 97,192 reports of accidental ingestion of cough and cold preparations, 47,108 of those, or 64%, were among babies and children under six years of age.  It is important to look at a range of data on "unintentional child poisonings" before forming conclusions.

Our company manufactured and marketed the first dissolvable smokeless tobacco products, Ariva® and Stonewall®, beginning in late 2001. These products have been on the market for almost nine years – which hardly makes them "novel" - and in that time, we have not encountered one case of nicotine "poisoning" of a child.   Ariva® and Stonewall® are blister-packaged for exactly this reason – to prevent to the extent possible access to our products by toddlers and children.  Here are some additional facts to consider:

Our products are labeled for use only by adult tobacco users- we wrote it that way.

Our products are stocked only with other tobacco products in stores - it's the law.

Our products do not look like any candy - we designed it that way.

Our product packaging does not look like a candy package - we chose it carefully.

Our products do not taste like candy – no nicotine-containing product can.

Our products do not appeal to non-smokers - we checked.

Our product has never been associated with child poisoning - we asked.

Please keep these facts in mind when you see headlines warning that "Tobacco Products to Blame for Thousands of Child Fatalities"; or that "Flavored Tobacco Pellets are Denounced as A Lure to Young Users."   And remember that the average Ariva® purchaser is middle-aged, has been smoking for more than ten years, and is concerned about the health effects of continued cigarette smoking.  Over 40% of American smokers are looking for an alternative to lighting up.  These are facts worth remembering."

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Star Scientific, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, without limitation, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the uncertainties inherent in the progress of scientific research, the Company's ability to raise additional capital in the future necessary to maintain its business, potential disputes concerning the Company's intellectual property, risks associated with litigation regarding such intellectual property, potential delays in obtaining any necessary government approvals of the Company's low-TSNA tobacco products, market acceptance of the Company's new smokeless tobacco products, competition from companies with greater resources than the Company, the Company's decision not to join the Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA"), and the Company's dependence on key employees and on its strategic relationships with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation in light of its combination with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Inc.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. See additional discussion under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K  as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov. All information in this release is current as of this date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise upon any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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.  Through its Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals subsidiary it is also involved in the development of nutraceuticals as well as products to address neurological and mood disorders. 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.  Rock Creek has scientific and research offices in Gloucester, MA. and a regulatory office in Washington, D.C.

See Star's website at: http://www.starscientific.com

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SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.