Star Tobacco

Star Scientific, originally established as Star Tobacco, was a life sciences company that transitioned from tobacco manufacturing to the development of nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical products. The company's research centered on anatabine, a minor alkaloid found in tobacco and other solanaceous plants, which was marketed as a dietary supplement under the brand name Anatabloc. Star Scientific investigated anatabine's potential to inhibit Nuclear factor kappa B activation, aiming to treat chronic inflammatory conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Crohn's disease. Despite early interest in its synthetic compound RCP-006, the company faced significant regulatory scrutiny from the FDA regarding its supplement marketing. Following a high-profile legal scandal involving Virginia's governor and a subsequent rebranding to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2016.