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.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/NE62741LOGO )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110830/PH59627
)
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
smachir@starscientific.com
Raushanna Salhi
Book Hill Partners
202-289-3636
rsalhi@bookhillpartners.com
SOURCE Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.