New 100’s Format Serves the Significant Portion of Adult Smokers Who Prefer the Larger Form Factor — Approximately Half of the U.S. Cigarette Market
Company targets additional revenue opportunities with an expanded lineup
MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), today announced the expansion of the Pinnacle Pure tobacco and water cigarette lineup with the addition of 100’s size and Menthol (green) varieties, joining Yellow and Blue to total 6 SKU’s in the market. Pinnacle Pure is made with just two ingredients — tobacco and water — and launched in the second quarter of 2026 at major U.S. retailers.
22nd Century’s newly launched Pinnacle tobacco-and-water cigarette brand has caught the eye of smoking consumers and is currently growing rapidly in our launch partner’s approximately 1,500 retail outlets. The recent addition of Pinnacle Pure expands the Pinnacle portfolio and further helps meet the demand of adult smokers seeking a better alternative to their standard brands.
“Consumer response to Pinnacle Pure has been exceptional,” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “In only a few months since launch, initial sales volumes have shown impressive and quick traction within the segment — and with the expanded number of SKU’s, we now serve an even more significant portion of adult smokers who prefer the 100mm form factor, and Menthol (Green) extends the tobacco-and-water choice to one of the category’s most loyal taste segments. This breadth is exactly what opens new retail doors as we execute our distribution expansion plans.”
Pinnacle Pure 100’s and Pinnacle Pure Menthol (Green) are expected to begin shipping in December 2026.
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is pioneering the Tobacco Harm Reduction and Nicotine Reduction Movements by enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.
Our Technology is Tobacco
Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using our patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities resulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine than traditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale. We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing leadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.
Our Products
We created our flagship product, the VLN® cigarette using our low nicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN® cigarettes have 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow consumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.
VLN® and Helps You Smoke Less® are registered trademarks of 22nd Century Limited LLC.
Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on X (formerly Twitter), on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.
Learn more about Pinnacle VLN and VLN® at tryvln.com and Pinnaclevln.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,” “promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our expectations regarding regulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive authorization or approval for new products, and (ii) our financial and operating performance. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2026 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed May 7, 2026 and August 14, 2026. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations & Media Contact
Daniel Otto
Chief Financial Officer & Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
investorrelations@xxiicentury.com
