XXII catalysts and trendline, YTD. With FDA planning to regulate nicotine levels, XXII (holding 200 patents protecting their production/manufaturing methods for making VLN, very low nicotine, tobacco) is well positioned to capitalize on the ~$20b of Big Tobacco market cap lost since July. In July, the FDA publicly announced their ambitions to change tobacco regulation. In addition, the FDA has invested $100m of capital to fund studies which involved XXII cigarettes. Recently, XXII had completed their Phase 3 Study, which provided data that an immediate reduction in nicotine levels produces the least amount of harm to smokers. This data may prove a talking point at the 10/26 and 10/27 conference where tobacco industry and legislative leaders will meet to discuss the future of tobacco regulation. On top of this, on the 11th of October, XXII closed an RDO that raised $54m in capital (enough runway for 5 years of operating expenses) to an undisclosed institution(s). This entity has 10 days to disclose their stake which means by the 20th, because the 21st is on a weekend. This represents a 16% ownership of the company, and given the current climate I think it is foreshadowing a partnership deal. The timing couldn't be better, with just two weeks until the start of the upcoming conference, I think 22nd Century Group is in store for a very rewarding month.
