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MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Aug. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that has for 28 years led and continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking driven by nicotine addiction, today announced that it will participate in the HC Wainwright Conference on September 15, 2026 at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. Investors can register and request meetings with management via their HC Wainwright representative.

Attending the conference will be Larry Firestone, chairman and chief executive officer, and Dan Otto, chief financial officer.

The Company has posted an updated investor presentation online at https://ir.xxiicentury.com/.

About 22^(nd) Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group is pioneering the tobacco harm reduction movement by enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.

Our Technology is Tobacco

Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using our patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities resulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine compared to traditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale. We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing leadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.

Our Products

We created our flagship low nicotine cigarette products, the VLN^(®) cigarette and Pinnacle VLN^(®) cigarette using our low nicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. Our VLN^(®) cigarettes are the lowest nicotine cigarettes in America^(™) and have 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow consumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.

FDA Authorized

Our VLN^(®) cigarettes are the only low nicotine combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA in the United States.

VLN^(®) is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC.

Learn more about 22^(nd) Century at xxiicentury.com, on X (formerly Twitter), on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.

Learn more about VLN^(®) cigarettes at tryvln.com.

Source and Disclaimer
https://marketwirenews.com/stock/xxii/news/22nd-century-group-to-participate-in-the-hc-wainwrig-7041693704857592.html

MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Aug. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the leader in low-nicotine tobacco, low-nicotine cigarettes and only tobacco products company focused on reducing the harms of smoking through nicotine reduction, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, and provided an update on recent commercial, regulatory and operational activities.

The Company’s proprietary reduced nicotine technology is designed to serve adult smokers seeking to significantly reduce nicotine consumption while continuing to use a familiar combustible format. 22nd Century’s strategy is centered on providing adult smokers with FDA-authorized reduced nicotine cigarette products intended to help them take greater control of their nicotine consumption.

“The second quarter marked another period of disciplined execution as we continued to expand retail distribution, increase consumer awareness and strengthen the commercial foundation for our VLN^(®) cigarette products” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “During the quarter, we broadened our retail footprint, launched new Pinnacle^(®) products, expanded into new geographic markets and continued building the infrastructure necessary to support long-term commercial growth. Our initial same-store sales reports for VLN^(®) products demonstrated encouraging consumer demand and reinforced our belief that the market is looking for an alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette with significantly reduced nicotine.”

“Our strategy remains straightforward. We will leverage our proprietary reduced-nicotine technology across multiple channels while improving economics through a broader product portfolio, add additional partner-brand opportunities and execute with discipline. As THE leader in low-nicotine tobacco technology and products, we believe our FDA-authorized modified risk claims, growing retail presence and differentiated intellectual property position us to continue investing in low-nicotine products and expanding the low-nicotine category. Together, these advantages provide us with a differentiated position within the tobacco industry and a strong foundation for future growth.”

“We believe nicotine reduction represents the next significant step in the evolution of the tobacco industry and one of the most compelling long-term opportunities in tobacco harm reduction. With our proprietary technology, FDA-authorized products, increasing commercial distribution and scalable business model, we believe 22nd Century is well positioned to create long-term value for adult smokers seeking familiar alternatives while delivering value for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results (compared to First Quarter 2026, except as noted)

All figures reported below reflect continuing operations, excluding discontinued operations related to the sale and exit of the Company’s hemp/cannabis business in late 2023, except as noted.

• Net revenues decreased to $2.9 million from $4.1 million.
• Gross profit (loss) improved to $(0.3) million, compared to $(0.6) million.
• Operating expenses were $3.0 million, increased from $2.4 million.
• Operating loss increased to $3.3 million, compared to $3.0 million.
• Net loss was $3.3 million, compared to net loss of $3.0 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA loss was $3.5 million, compared to a loss of $2.6 million.
• Ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $6.1 million.

2026 Strategic Priorities

22nd Century has identified the below priorities for its business activities in 2026

• Expanding VLN® product distribution and consumer awareness.
• Continuing disciplined cost management and capital allocation.
• Advancing toward EBITDA breakeven as higher-margin revenues scale.
• Remaining actively engaged with FDA regulators and public-health stakeholders.

The Company believes that the convergence of regulatory momentum, increasing consumer awareness and its differentiated product portfolio may support long-term value creation.

Recent Business Highlights

• Expanded Pinnacle VLN^(®) retail distribution into approximately 150 additional stores across metro New York and northern New Jersey, strengthening the Company’s presence in one of the nation’s largest convenience retail markets.
• Launched Pinnacle Pure^(™), a new tobacco- and water-style combustible cigarette expected to be distributed through more than 2,000 retail locations, expanding the Pinnacle brand portfolio and supporting higher-margin revenue opportunities.
• Initiated a retail launch of Pinnacle VLN^(®) in California through approximately 60 stores, establishing the Company’s first commercial presence in the nation’s largest tobacco market.
• Supported Pinnacle^(®) VLN^(®) through in-store marketing materials and digital promotion programs designed to increase adult-smoker awareness and support retail sell-through.
  • Initial promotional programs conducted during May and early June were associated with a meaningful increase in unit sales and a broader number of adult-smoker product trials during the promotional period.
• Continued expanding Pinnacle^(®) VLN^(®) retail distribution across convenience, drug, tobacco specialty and other retail channels. Building on the Company’s current presence in more than 2,000 stores across 20 states, management is targeting expansion to approximately 5,000 retail outlets across multiple classes of trade by year-end 2026, significantly broadening adult-smoker access to VLN^(®) products while providing a stronger foundation for long-term revenue growth.
• Continued commercial discussions regarding the supply of VLN^(®) tobacco, manufacturing capabilities, partner-brand opportunities and, where applicable, future licensing arrangements.
• Ended the quarter with $6.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding debt, providing financial flexibility to support commercialization initiatives and strategic growth objectives.

Second Quarter 2026 Product Line Net Revenues

• Cigarette net revenues were $2.3 million, decreased from $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2026 on fewer cartons sold, reflecting a strategic shift away from high volume and low priced CMO export customers and toward higher margin VLN® products. Additionally, continued expansion of natural style cigarette products launched in 2025 is expected to accelerate revenue and margin growth in this category in the second half of 2026.
• Filtered cigar net revenues were $0.7 million compared to $0.9 million.
• Distribution net revenues from other tobacco products for the period was $(0.2) million, reflecting a one-time charge for reversal and write-off of aged inventory discontinued by our customer.
• VLN® cigarette net revenues of $0.03 million, increased from negligible revenue in the first quarter of 2026 reflect growing reorder activity primarily for our Pinnacle® partner brand VLN® products, offset by current period price promotions targeting expanded awareness, consumer trial and adoption.
• Additionally, net revenue reflects accruals for product previously sold in prior years that will be returned or exchanged.

Conference Call

22nd Century will host a live webcast today at 8:00 a.m. E.T. to discuss its second quarter 2026 financial results and business highlights. The live and archived webcast will be accessible in the Events section on 22nd Century’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.xxiicentury.com/events.

News Source. & Disclaimer:
https://marketwirenews.com/stock/xxii/news/22nd-century-group-reports-second-quarter-2026-finan-4770621827447728.html

MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Aug. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that has for 28 years led and continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking driven by nicotine addiction, will host a webcast on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET to discuss its 2026 second quarter results, which are to be reported in a press release at approximately 6:00 AM ET the same day.

During the webcast, Larry Firestone, chairman and chief executive officer, and Dan Otto, chief financial officer, will review financial results, discuss progress made in the second quarter and update plans for the 2026 year.

The live and archived webcast will be accessible on the Events web page in the Company's Investor Relations section of the website, at https://ir.xxiicentury.com/events. Please access the website at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast to register and, if necessary, download and install any required software.

About 22^(nd) Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group is pioneering the tobacco harm reduction movement by enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.

Our Technology is Tobacco

Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using our patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities resulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine than traditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale. We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing leadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.

Our Products

We created our flagship low nicotine cigarette products , the VLN^(®) cigarette and Pinnacle VLN^(®) cigarette using our low nicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. Our VLN^(®) cigarettes are the lowest nicotine cigarettes in America^(™) and have 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow consumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.

FDA Authorized

Our VLN^(®) cigarettes are the only low nicotine combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA in the United States.

VLN^(®) is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC.

News Source & Disclaimer
https://marketwirenews.com/stock/xxii/news/22nd-century-group-to-announce-second-quarter-2026-r-8042526823068748.html

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CHICAGO, June 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cosmos Health Inc. (“Cosmos Health” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:COSM), a diversified, vertically integrated global healthcare group, today announced the extension of its C-Scrub antimicrobial wash brand into the veterinary and animal health sector through the planned launch of a veterinary formulation of C-Scrub Wash 4%, marking the Company’s first entry into the animal health market.

The Company intends to launch the veterinary formulation in the United Kingdom, where C-Scrub is already an established and commercially active human-use brand, with broader international expansion to follow.

The global animal health market was estimated at approximately $68.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $156.0 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.0%, according to Grand View Research.

Brand Extension into Animal Health
C-Scrub Wash 4%, manufactured by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Cana Laboratories S.A., is a commercially available human-use antimicrobial skin cleanser.

The Company is now extending the C-Scrub brand into the veterinary space following successful independent testing of C-Scrub Wash 4% according to European veterinary disinfectant standards.

This extension leverages the existing product, manufacturing infrastructure, and brand equity of C-Scrub to address a distinct and rapidly growing segment within animal healthcare.

European Veterinary Standards Testing
C-Scrub Wash 4% successfully demonstrated bactericidal activity according to EN 1656:2019 and yeasticidal activity according to EN 1657:2024 following independent testing conducted by Quality Assurance & Control Systems Ltd. (QACS), an EU-based testing laboratory accredited according to EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Testing was conducted in May 2026 under clean conditions (3g/L bovine albumin) at 20°C with a 10-minute contact time.

Under EN 1656:2019, C-Scrub Wash 4% demonstrated bactericidal activity meeting the required ?5 log reduction criterion against four reference organisms required under EN 1656 testing — Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus hauseri, and Enterococcus hirae — at both undiluted (80%) and 50% concentrations.

Under EN 1657:2024, the product demonstrated yeasticidal activity meeting the required ?4 log reduction criterion against Candida albicans at both undiluted (80%) and 50% concentrations.

Greg Siokas, CEO of Cosmos Health, stated: “The successful testing of C-Scrub Wash 4% under EN 1656 and EN 1657 represents an important milestone as we extend a brand we have already established in the human healthcare market into the fast-growing veterinary sector. This marks Cosmos Health's first entry into animal health, and we believe that combining existing C-Scrub brand awareness, manufacturing capabilities, and distribution infrastructure positions us to pursue meaningful commercial opportunities globally.”

About C-Scrub Wash 4% for Animal Healthcare
C-Scrub Wash 4% is an antimicrobial wash containing the active substance Chlorhexidine Digluconate 4% w/v — a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. Already commercially available for human use, the formulation is now being extended for animal healthcare applications in veterinary environments including breeding, husbandry, veterinary care facilities, transport environments, and related professional settings.

About Cosmos Health Inc.

Cosmos Health Inc. (Nasdaq: COSM), incorporated in 2009 in Nevada, is a diversified, vertically integrated global healthcare group. The Company owns a portfolio of proprietary pharmaceutical and nutraceutical brands, including Sky Premium Life®, Mediterranation®, bio-bebe®, C-Sept® and C-Scrub®. Through its subsidiary Cana Laboratories S.A., licensed under European Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and certified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), it manufactures pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics, biocides, and medical devices within the European Union. Cosmos Health also distributes a broad line of pharmaceuticals and parapharmaceuticals, including branded generics and OTC medications, to retail pharmacies and wholesale distributors through its subsidiaries in Greece and the UK. Furthermore, the Company has established R&D partnerships targeting major health disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer, enhanced by artificial intelligence drug repurposing technologies, and focuses on the R&D of novel patented nutraceuticals, specialized root extracts, proprietary complex generics, and innovative OTC products. Cosmos Health has also entered the telehealth space through the acquisition of ZipDoctor, Inc., based in Texas, USA. With a global distribution platform, the Company is currently expanding throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, and has offices and distribution centers in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece, and in Harlow, UK. More information is available at www.cosmoshealthinc.com, www.skypremiumlife.com, www.cana.gr, www.zipdoctor.co, www.cloudscreen.gr, as well as LinkedIn and X.

News & Disclaimer: https://marketwirenews.com/stock/cosm/news/cosmos-health-enters-69-billion-global-animal-health-5972752845027132.html