GLEN ALLEN, Va., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star
Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGX) announced that the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office ("PTO") issued a Notice of Allowance on
May 11, 2012 to Rock Creek
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, in Application
No. 12/729,346, covering an improved method for the synthetic
preparation of anatabine. A Notice of Allowance, issued by the PTO,
is a notification that an applicant is entitled to a patent.
A written patent on this application will issue in the next few
months.
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Dr. Curtis Wright, Senior Vice
President and Medical Director of Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals
commented, "I have been working with the problems of natural
extracts and plant products for over 20 years, and I cannot
overemphasize the value of having properly secured intellectual
property for the synthesis and purification of compounds of
interest to our company. I continue to be impressed by work done by
our staff and that of our research partners in adding to the value
of this company."
The allowed '346 application discloses an improved process for
synthesizing anatabine that facilitates larger scale, commercial
production. The method, therefore, represents an improvement
over the prior art, which allowed for smaller scale production at
lower yields, and in a manner that limited the ability to scale-up
the process. The company, through Rock Creek, is also pursuing
several additional patent applications covering anatabine salts,
dietary formulations containing anatabine, and methods of
administering anatabine for the nutritional management of disorders
associated with unhealthy levels of inflammation.
Paul L. Perito, Rock Creek's
Chairman and CEO stated: "We cannot overstate the significance of
these US PTO approved patent claims since the anatabine in our
dietary supplement, Anatabloc®, is made utilizing the process
covered by these claims. Further, all of our ongoing clinical
trials utilize anatabine that has been manufactured utilizing this
protected process. Given our focus on this unique alkaloid
over the last several years, and the role that we believe it can
play in assisting in maintaining healthy levels of inflammation,
having an available source of anatabine that is protected by a
patent is an important step forward for Star Scientific and its
shareholders. In a parallel fashion, we continue to pursue a
number of related patent applications for anatabine, anatabine
citrate, and its isomers and salts that we believe will strengthen
and expand our intellectual property rights. Our existing and
expanding patent portfolio constitutes the crown jewels of our
company. Those treasured assets, merit our continuing
commitment to establish, maintain, and defend our intellectual
property and existing patents from potential infringers."
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, results of clinical trials, 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, Inc. is a technology-oriented company with a
mission to promote maintenance of a healthy metabolism, as well as
to reduce the harm associated with the use of tobacco at every
level. Over the last several years, through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Star Scientific has been
engaged in the manufacturing, sale, and marketing of two
nutraceutical dietary supplements, and the development of other
nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The company also has continued
to pursue the development, implementation, and licensing of the
technology behind its proprietary StarCured® tobacco curing
process, which substantially prevents the formation of carcinogenic
toxins present in tobacco and tobacco smoke, primarily the
tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs and related low-TSNA
dissolvable tobacco products. 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:
Talhia T. Tuck
Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
Star Scientific, Inc.
(301) 654-8300
ttuck@starscientific.com
SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.