European patent allowed for 22nd Century’s nicotine biosynthesis genes

In New York, 22nd Century Group that the European Patent Office issued a Notice of Grant to the company for the NBB and A622 genes. Both genes are responsible for nicotine production in the tobacco plant. International Patent Application PCT/IB2006/004043, from which European Patent Application No. 06848676.0 was derived, covers methods for producing tobacco plants with increased nicotine levels and tobacco plants and products produced therefrom.

Patents will be issued by the European Patent Office in countries selected by 22nd Century within the next few months and will expire in September 2026.

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