The low nicotine tobacco industry is undergoing a revolutionary transformation, driven by cutting-edge research and stringent regulations.
Imagine a world where smoking doesn’t lead to addiction—this is becoming reality thanks to innovations like the FDA-approved low nicotine cigarettes, Moonlight and Moonlight Menthol.
Pioneers such as 22nd Century Group are using advanced genetic engineering to cultivate tobacco with up to 95% less nicotine, aligning with new regulations to reduce smoking rates and prevent new addictions. This wave of innovation is not only reshaping tobacco products but is also paving the way for a healthier, nicotine-free future.
This article dives deep into the global patent landscape of the low nicotine tobacco industry, revealing the top companies, pioneering inventors, and cutting-edge R&D centres driving these advancements.
This analysis is based on published patent data from 2003-2022. Interested in the updated analysis?
What is the patent filing trend in the Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry?
The chart below represents the patent filing trend within the Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry from the year 2003 to 2021.
The table below provides the number of applications filed and the number of patents granted from the year 2010 to 2021.
| Year | Applications Filed in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry | Patents Granted in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry |
| 2021 | 22 | 3 |
| 2020 | 21 | 12 |
| 2019 | 32 | 15 |
| 2018 | 33 | 13 |
| 2017 | 35 | 17 |
| 2016 | 25 | 11 |
| 2015 | 31 | 15 |
| 2014 | 18 | 18 |
| 2013 | 53 | 42 |
| 2012 | 43 | 15 |
| 2011 | 16 | 11 |
| 2010 | 16 | 13 |
Technology Overview of Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry Patents
Evolution of Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry: 2003 – 2021
The chart below showcases the technology through the years 2003 to 2021 for the Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry.
Key companies filing patents in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry
The chart below showcases the leading 15 companies actively involved in research and development in low nicotine tobacco industry.
It’s remarkable that China Tobacco has taken the lead in the low nicotine tobacco industry, boasting an impressive 73 patents. It is also surprising to find a company traditionally known for its jasmine tea, Hengxian Nanfang Tea Factory and world’s chemical giants, BASF among top companies in Low Nicotine Tobacco industry, highlighting the diverse and evolving landscape of the low nicotine tobacco industry.
Technology Overview
This analysis provides an insight into areas of focus and innovations of companies thereby offering comprehensive snapshot of their contributions to the dynamic landscape of low nicotine tobacco sector.
The table below shows the number of patents assigned to the leading 25 companies involved in the low nicotine tobacco industry.
| Companies | Patents |
| China Tobacco | 73 |
| Altria | 22 |
| British American Tobacco | 18 |
| China National Tobacco | 12 |
| Hongyun Honghe Tobacco Group | 11 |
| Japan Tobacco | 10 |
| 22nd Century | 9 |
| Shanghai Tobacco Group | 7 |
| RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company | 6 |
| Hengxian Nanfang Tea Factory | 5 |
| Vector Tobacco | 5 |
| Philip Morris International | 5 |
| Philip Morris USA | 4 |
| BASF | 3 |
| Pyxus Holdings | 3 |
| LTR Industries | 2 |
| Sichuan Tobacco Company | 2 |
| Suzhou Guli Biotechnology | 2 |
| Yunnan Ruisheng Tobacco Technology Group | 2 |
| Xiamen Tobacco Industry | 2 |
| KT&G | 2 |
| Yunnan Wanfang Biotechnology | 2 |
| Huabao Flavors And Fragrances | 2 |
| Jiangsu Xinyuan Tobacco Sheet | 2 |
| Yunnan Kunchuan Tobacco Equipment | 1 |
Who are the leading innovators in the Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry?
The table below shows the number of patents assigned to the top 25 inventors involved in innovations and technological advancements in the low nicotine tobacco industry.
| Inventor Name | Patents |
| Kvasenkov Oleg Ivanovich | 75 |
| Tatarchenko Irina Igorevna | 50 |
| Xu Dongmei | 16 |
| Wang Bingwu | 10 |
| Kudithipudi Chengalrayan | 10 |
| De Godoy Lusso Marcos Fernando | 10 |
| Song Zhongbang | 9 |
| Leng Bo | 9 |
| Zhang Songtao | 8 |
| Yang Jinkui | 8 |
| Zhou Jun | 8 |
| Shen Yanxin | 8 |
| Liu Guoshun | 8 |
| Gao Yulong | 8 |
| Gnuchikh Evgenija Vadimovna | 8 |
| Zhang Keqin | 7 |
| Kim Jinkyung | 7 |
| Frederick Jesse | 7 |
| Bai Ruoshi | 7 |
| Duan Yanqing | 7 |
| Cui Hong | 7 |
| Yang Chunlei | 6 |
| Pramod Sreepriya | 6 |
| Sui Xueyi | 6 |
Which countries have the maximum patent filings in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry?
The chart below provides an overview of the patent filings in the low nicotine tobacco industry in various countries.
Where are the Research Centers of Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry patents located?
The chart below represents the major research and development centers contributing towards innovations and technological advancements in the low nicotine tobacco industry.
The chart clearly illustrates China‘s dominance in low nicotine tobacco research with an impressive 324 patents. This is significantly higher than Russia and United States of America, which have 81 and 77 patents respectively. This vast difference in patent count underscores China’s extensive focus on innovation and research in developing low nicotine tobacco products, highlighting the country’s leading role in this crucial area of public health.
Leading companies in China filing patents in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry
The chart below depicts the distribution of patents owned by the 10 leading companies within China involved in the low nicotine tobacco industry.
Technology Overview
The technological categorization of patents ranging from Chemical Treatment, Physical Treatment and Target Gene/Enzyme (that play a role in Nicotine Reduction) offers a comprehensive overview of China’s contributions towards the low nicotine tobacco sector.
Note: The top 10 patent filers in Russia are primarily individual inventors or academic institutions rather than companies. As a result, we decided to omit the leading companies and technology overview charts for Russia from our analysis. This unique trend highlights the significant contributions of academia and independent innovators to the country’s patent landscape.
Leading companies in USA filing patents in Low Nicotine Tobacco Industry
The chart below depicts the distribution of patents owned by the 10 leading companies within United States of America involved in the low nicotine tobacco industry.
Technology Overview
The technological categorization of patents ranging from Reduction in Content of Nicotine/Nicotine Derivative, Genetic Modification (GMO) Methods and Fertilizers offers a comprehensive overview of United States of America’s contributions towards the low nicotine tobacco sector.
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