SARASOTA, Fla., Aug. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (OTCBB:DNAG) today announced that the Company's groundbreaking forensics technology for law enforcement was featured in an article about the growing use of DNA testing in crime investigations in yesterday's edition of USAToday newspaper.
The feature article on page one and two of the national newspaper focused on advances made by DNAPrint scientists that enable investigators to learn more about potential suspects in criminal investigations. DNAPrint's technology is based on human genome research and is the first to apply empirical methods for the reconstruction of physical appearance from crime scene DNA or human remains. This technology is sold to forensics professionals under the trade name DNAWITNESS(tm) and first gained national attention in 2003 after it led to the apprehension of a serial killer in Louisiana. More recently, DNAWITNESS(tm) assisted investigators in apprehending suspected killers of an unidentified girl dubbed 'Precious Doe,' whose decapitated body was found in Kansas City, Mo. four years ago. Currently, DNAWITNESS(tm) is being used in more than 100 police investigations worldwide.
USAToday quoted Dave Bernard, a Kansas City police detective, as saying DNA ancestry testing "made a huge difference" in the Precious Doe case by helping investigators sort through reports about possible suspects. "It allowed us to prioritize our tips, to give special attention to tips about mixed-race children, for instance. It was invaluable." The newspaper went on to say that Bernard and many other police detectives hail the ancestry tests as a breakthrough in crime fighting.
The article noted that conventional DNA tests examine 13 markers (called CODIS markers), while DNAPrint's technology screens 176 markers, thus providing a significant benefit to criminal investigators. The Company's DNAWITNESS(tm) technology can reliably predict a person's genetic ancestry (Indo-European, Sub-Saharan African, East Asian, Native American, or a mixture of those classifications) and certain descriptive information about the person's physical makeup. Individuals showing greater than 50 percent Indo-European are further categorized as Northwest European, Southern European, South East Asian, and Middle Eastern. Additionally, detectives have at their disposal DNAPrint's RETINOME(tm) technology that determines eye color run on the same sample using the same criteria.
DNAPrint's forensic technology has the capability of shifting completely a criminal investigation's focus. For example, in May 2003 the remains of a body were unearthed in a shallow grave near the resort town of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. The remains were sent to the San Francisco Medical Examiner's office, which determined that the victim was a woman, 30 to 40 years old, of Southeast Asian ancestry. The medical examiner's findings were corroborated by eyewitness reports of a short, possibly Asian woman in the area complaining about an abusive spouse or significant other. In August 2004, however, investigators shifted the focus of their investigation after a DNA sample sent to DNAPrint for analysis determined that the victim was 100 percent Native American.
USAToday quoted Paul Dostie, the police detective investigating the Mammoth Lakes case, as saying the DNAPrint's test "turned around the whole investigation. We're still looking for the killer, but we know a lot more now."
Commenting on the article, DNAPrint genomics president and chief executive officer Richard Gabriel stated, "It is clear that our tests, DNAWITNESS(tm), RETINOME(tm), STRWitness, EUROWitness, DNAWitness-Mito, and DNAWitness-Y cover the field in forensics genetics. Detectives, forensic scientists, and medical examiners can use our products and services to corroborate eyewitness reports, help identify human remains, provide descriptions of 'persons of interest' when no witnesses are available and help provide additional genetic ancestry information, as in the 'Precious Doe' case that ultimately led detectives to the suspected killers. We are encouraged by USAToday's coverage and hope that this will spur more detectives and prosecutors to seek our help in solving cases," he concluded.
The article can be accessed on USAToday's web site at www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-16-dna_x.htm?POE=click-refer.
About DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
DNAPrint genomics, Inc. (www.dnaprint.com) is a developer of genomics-based products and services focused on drug development, pharmacogenomic diagnostic tests, forensics technology, and consumer genetic tests. DNAPrint's family of products for the law enforcement forensics and consumer markets include DNAWitness(tm), RETINOME(tm) (a predictive test for inferring eye color from a DNA sample), ANCESTRYbyDNA(tm), and EURO-DNA(tm). Recently announced and as a part of the Company's Trace Genetics acquisition, DNAWitness-Y and DNAWitness-Mito are two new tests that can be used as an identification tool when other DNA testing either fails to yield results or the sample might be too deteriorated. The Company's first theranostic product (drug/test combination) is PT-401, a 'Super EPO' (erythropoietin) dimer protein drug for treatment of anemia in renal dialysis patients (end stage renal disease). Currently in pre-clinical development, PT-401 will be targeted to patients with a genetic profile indicating their propensity to have the best clinical response.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's products, dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition, intellectual property of others, and patent protection and litigation. DNAPrint genomics, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based.