Star Scientific to stop making tobacco products

(AP) Star Scientific Inc. plans to stop making and selling its dissolvable smokeless tobacco products at the end of the year.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, the Glen Allen, Va.-based company said its board voted unanimously to discontinue the Ariva and Stonewall products. It had sold varieties of tobacco lozenges that dissolve in the user's mouth since 2001, but sales have been low.

Star Scientific used to focus primarily on research of a tobacco curing process that would prevent the formation of carcinogenic toxins in tobacco.

Its focus has shifted to the dietary supplements it sells through subsidiary Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, including its Antabloc product for anti-inflammatory support and the CigRx supplement to reduce the urge to smoke.