Star Scientific Inc. (CIGX)

Star Scientific is a relatively small and young tobacco company.

The company has a has licensed a patent from Regent Technology (a company controlled by its founder and CEO) for a method of curing tobacco which produces fewer tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNAs). It intended to license the technology, but shortly after the patent, RJ Reynolds (RJR) began encouraging its tobacco suppliers to use the technology.^[1] It has been involved in the case since then: initially the case was determined by the judge in favor of the defendant RJ Reynolds, but this verdict was reversed and remanded by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.^[2] Most recently, in July 2009 a jury verdict was entered in favor of RJ Reynolds, which the company has appealed to the Federal Circuit Court.^[3]

The company is also involved in selling dissolvable smokeless tobacco product, marketing a dietary supplement for reducing tobacco cravings called CigRx, and researching treatments for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, particularly using constitutents of tobacco.

References

1. ↑ Star Scientific, Inc. v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., 174 F. Supp. 2d 388 - Dist. Court, D. Maryland v2001.
2. ↑ Star Scientific, Inc. v. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., 537 F. 3d 1357 - Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit 2008.
3. ↑ Star Scientific. (2010-03-16). 10-K. SEC.