Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals Inc. (fka RCPIQ)

[knuts4oe]

From patent # WO 2011119722 A2 whose title includes "and synthesizing anatabine" :

[14] In an alternative embodiment, methods are provided for synthesizing other minor alkaloids, such as anabasine, nornicotine, N-methylanabasine, or anabaseine. A compound of Formula I may be prepared as previously described and reacted with a dielectrophile to yield a compound of Formula IIa.

My read was that Jonnie was making sure no one could compete with anatabine by using another alkaloid.