22nd Century Group

What 22nd Century Group does

22nd Century Group is a publicly traded plant biotechnology company (NASDAQ: XXII) that develops very-low-nicotine tobacco and tobacco harm-reduction products. Its proprietary technology uses modern breeding techniques and targeted DNA modification to produce tobacco plants yielding 95% less nicotine than conventional tobacco while preserving full flavor and high yield, protected by an issued US patent portfolio (e.g., US 9,834,780; US 10,076,134; US 10,085,478) and pending applications.

The company's flagship commercial output is the VLN® line — VLN, Smoker Friendly VLN, and Pinnacle VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes — which in December 2021 became the first and only combusted cigarettes to receive FDA Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) authorization. A 2024 marketplace study reported a 40% reduction in daily cigarette consumption over 12 weeks among VLN users. Beyond VLN, the company sells a portfolio of traditional tobacco products (Pinnacle, Smoker Friendly, Back Porch filtered cigars, MoonLight, Pinnacle Cigarillos, Pinnacle Moist Snuff) and operates NASCO Products, LLC, a contract-manufacturing business in Mocksville, NC that produces cigarettes and filtered cigars for domestic and international customers.

22nd Century makes money through wholesale and retail product sales and contract manufacturing services. Q1 2026 revenue was $4.1M; FY2025 revenue was $17.6M (down 27.9% from $24.4M the prior year). Distribution is via C-store chain partnerships (Circle K in Illinois, ~140 stores), major national cigarette distributors (NY/NJ, ~150 stores), a California trial (~60 stores), and broader wholesale channels — currently 2,000+ stores across 20 states with a stated target of 5,000+ outlets across 20+ states by year-end 2026, under authorizations covering up to 48 states. The company completed a multi-year restructuring in 2025, became debt-free, and held $9.5M of cash as of Q1 2026.

Name

22nd Century Group

Legal name

22nd Century Group Inc

Website

https://xxiicentury.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company (NASDAQ: XXII) that develops 95%-reduced-nicotine VLN® cigarettes — the only FDA-authorized Modified Risk Tobacco Product combusted cigarettes — alongside traditional tobacco brands and NASCO contract manufacturing services for adult smokers and wholesale customers across the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reduced-Nicotine Tobacco Products

NAICS

Tobacco Manufacturing (312230), Tobacco Manufacturing (31223), Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Merchant Wholesalers (42494), Tobacco, Electronic Cigarette, and Other Smoking Supplies Retailers (459991)

SIC

Cigarettes (2111), Tobacco Products (2100)

akta.pro primary industry

Cigarettes Manufacturing & Brands (CRADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tobacco Convenience Retail (C-Stores & Gas Stations) (CRANADAF), Cigarette & Packaged Tobacco Retail (CRANADAA)

Keywords

• Reduced nicotine cigarettes
• Tobacco harm reduction
• Modified risk tobacco products
• Plant biotechnology
• Contract tobacco manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tobacco Product Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes and other tobacco products including traditional cigarettes, filtered cigars, cigarillos, and moist snuff. Products sold through retail stores and wholesale distribution channels across 20+ states.
2. Contract Manufacturing Services: NASCO provides contract manufacturing services for premium-quality cigarettes and filtered cigars for domestic and international markets. End-to-end manufacturing support from raw material sourcing to finished goods.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

22nd Century Group manufactures and sells tobacco products, with its flagship being VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes and FDA-authorized as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product. The company also produces traditional tobacco brands (Pinnacle, Smoker Friendly, Back Porch, MoonLight) and operates NASCO, a contract manufacturing division producing cigarettes and filtered cigars for domestic and international clients.

Product overview

22nd Century Group is a biotechnology and tobacco company that pioneered the nicotine harm reduction movement. The company offers a portfolio of tobacco products centered on its flagship FDA-authorized VLN® (Very Low Nicotine) cigarette brand, which contains 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes and is the first and only cigarette authorized as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP). The VLN® product line includes three sub-brands: VLN® Cigarettes, Smoker Friendly VLN®, and Pinnacle VLN®, each targeting different market segments. Beyond the VLN® reduced-nicotine portfolio, the company manufactures and sells traditional tobacco products including Pinnacle Pure (natural tobacco), Pinnacle Cigarettes, Back Porch Filtered Cigars, MoonLight Cigarettes, Pinnacle Cigarillos, Smoker Friendly Cigarettes, Smoker Friendly Deluxe Filtered Cigars, Smoker Friendly Black Label Cigarettes, and Pinnacle Moist Snuff. The company also operates a contract manufacturing division (NASCO) providing high-speed cigarette and filtered cigar manufacturing services for domestic and international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VLN®: World's first and only cigarette purposefully designed to support more mindful smoking with 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes. FDA-authorized Modified Risk Tobacco Product.
• Smoker Friendly
• Pinnacle
• Back Porch
• MoonLight
• Pinnacle Pure

Products and services

• VLN® Cigarettes The world's first and only FDA-authorized cigarette purposefully designed to support more mindful smoking, containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes. Authorized as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) to help adult smokers reduce nicotine consumption.
• Smoker Friendly VLN® Cigarettes Low nicotine cigarette option under the Smoker Friendly brand, one of the top-performing private label brands in the country. Grown and manufactured in the USA with American-grown tobacco.
• Pinnacle VLN® Cigarettes Pinnacle brand low nicotine blend made with American-grown tobacco and crafted in the USA. Built to meet the needs of today's evolving adult tobacco consumer.
• Pinnacle Pure Cigarettes Natural tobacco cigarettes made with real tobacco and water only, no additives or synthetic flavorings. Positioned as a clean, natural alternative for adult smokers.
• Back Porch Filtered Cigars Filtered cigars available in popular blends including Vanilla, Smooth, Cherry, Full Flavor, and Menthol. Crafted for adult consumers who appreciate quality without compromise.
• MoonLight Cigarettes Rising international brand available in two varieties: Moonlight Gold (smooth, mellow profile) and Moonlight Red (richer, full-bodied experience). Designed for global markets with premium tobacco.
• Pinnacle Cigarettes Premium cigarettes available in King size and 100s formats, made with a curated blend of high-quality tobaccos for a consistently rich and satisfying flavor.
• Pinnacle Cigarillos Premium cigarillos wrapped in smooth, high-quality leaf with a rich, aromatic blend of premium tobaccos. Delivers a consistently mellow draw and satisfying, slow burn.
• Smoker Friendly Cigarettes One of the top-performing private label cigarette brands in the country, delivering reliable, satisfying smoke at an accessible price point. Crafted with American-grown tobacco.
• Smoker Friendly Deluxe Filtered Cigars Smooth, flavorful filtered cigars made with a rich tobacco blend and crafted for a consistent draw. Offers quality and value for adult tobacco users.
• Smoker Friendly Black Label Cigarettes Premium blend of quality tobacco and water offering a smooth draw and rich flavor in King size and 100s. Designed for those who appreciate a full-bodied profile with a clean finish.
• Pinnacle Moist Snuff Pinnacle Long Cut Straight moist snuff product made with high-quality American tobacco. Delivers rich, satisfying flavor and finely tuned moisture profile for long-lasting enjoyment.
• Contract Manufacturing Services (NASCO) NASCO contract manufacturing services providing high-speed production of premium-quality cigarettes and filtered cigars for domestic and international markets. Includes end-to-end manufacturing support, regulatory compliance, and private label solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in daily cigarette consumption over 12 weeks among VLN users (2024 marketplace study)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Circle K (Alimentation Couche-Tard)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 October 2025Launch of VLN reduced nicotine cigarettes at approximately 140 Circle K locations in Illinois as initial major C-store chain partnership. Expansion of authorization to sell in 45 states alongside ongoing efforts to achieve full U.S. distribution.
• Multiple Tobacco BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Multiple tobacco brands partnering with 22nd Century to expand VLN reduced nicotine cigarettes, supporting growth strategies amid regulatory shifts. Company preparing for FDA standards limiting nicotine content in cigarettes and scaling product availability across all states. Includes Smoker Friendly (SF) VLN brand under trademark licensing from Smoker Friendly International, LLC.
• Greenbutts, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2024Multi-year agreement with Greenbutts, LLC to provide manufacturing space and staff at the NASCO facility in Mocksville, North Carolina for producing innovative plant-based, biodegradable cigarette filter solution. The filter technology replaces single-use plastic-based filters with water-soluble, fully biodegradable alternatives. Companies intend to produce sample product to pursue FDA approval, with plans to expand to full commercial production for use in VLN reduced nicotine cigarettes and the contract manufacturing business.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Universal Corporation: Global leaf tobacco supplier to major cigarette manufacturers. Comparable to 22nd Century as a tobacco value-chain participant with deep agronomic expertise, though it is upstream (leaf processing) rather than competing at the consumer-cigarette level.

Broad incumbents

• JT International (Japan Tobacco): Owner of Winston, Camel (ex-US), Mevius, and Ploom. Competes with 22nd Century in combustible cigarettes internationally and has invested in reduced-risk products (Ploom HnB), making it a natural incumbent comparable on global reach and reduced-risk strategy.
• Altria Group: US-focused tobacco holding company (Marlboro, Copenhagen, Skoal, on!, NJOY). Competes with 22nd Century across combustible cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and reduced-risk products, and is the dominant US C-store and tobacco distributor counterparty.
• Philip Morris International: Global tobacco multinational with Marlboro and the IQOS heat-not-burn platform. Operates in the same combustible and reduced-risk tobacco categories as 22nd Century, with vastly greater distribution and R&D resources, and is the natural incumbent that would compete with VLN if a low-nicotine mandate were implemented.
• ITC Limited: Indian conglomerate with a large cigarettes business (Gold Flake, Classic, Wills) plus FMCG and agribusiness. Comparable to 22nd Century as a tobacco manufacturer with a portfolio of cigarette brands and contract manufacturing capabilities, though primarily serving the Indian and emerging-markets combustible market.
• British American Tobacco: Owner of Reynolds American (Camel, Newport, Vuse). Operates combustible cigarettes and reduced-risk products (Vuse e-vapor, Velo pouches) and competes with 22nd Century for adult smokers seeking harm-reduction alternatives and for C-store shelf space.

Emerging players

• NJOY (Altria): E-cigarette brand acquired by Altria. Comparable to 22nd Century as a reduced-risk nicotine product company with FDA authorizations, competing for the same adult smoker looking to reduce combustible consumption, but operating in the e-vapor category rather than combustible low-nicotine.

Direct peers

• Turning Point Brands: US marketer of tobacco products including Zig-Zag, Stoker's, and TPB chew. Closely comparable to 22nd Century as a US-focused mid-market tobacco company selling through C-stores and tobacco retailers, and competes for the same adult smoker and convenience store shelf.
• Vector Group: US holding company for Liggett Group (Liggett Select, Eve, USA Gold). Competes with 22nd Century in value and mid-tier combustible cigarettes through its own manufacturing and wholesale operations, and has historically pursued brand extensions into reduced-risk categories.

Regional players

• Pyxus International: Specialty tobacco and cannabis value-chain company (formerly Alliance One International). Comparable to 22nd Century as a tobacco leaf processor and supply-chain partner to cigarette manufacturers globally, with growing plant-based ingredient exposure similar to 22nd Century's biotech focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/22nd-century-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/try_vln/?hl=en
• Xx.com/_xxiicentury

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds13 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 22nd Century Group