Applied DNA Sciences Introduces SigNature(R) DNA in New Pharmaceutical-grade and Packaging Inks in Partnership With Nissha Printing Company and Kishu Giken Kogyo at Medical Japan Expo 2016

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwired - February 25, 2016) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (NASDAQ: APDNW) (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and product authentication solutions, has introduced its SigNature^® DNA marker into new pharmaceutical-grade and packaging inks suitable for tablet and packaging marking, in partnership with Nissha Printing Company ("Nissha") and Kishu Giken Kogyo Co.,Ltd. ("KGK"). From February 24-26, 2016, SigNature DNA ink and printing solutions will be presented at Medical Japan Expo in Osaka.

Powered by unique botanical-based SigNature DNA, these inks allow for seamless marking at the point-of-manufacture, ensuring that original raw materials or ingredients used to produce pharmaceuticals are fully protected and traceable to point-of-sale. APDN has completed trials with Nissha and KGK partners, proving that unique SigNature DNA marks can be authenticated on the pharmaceutical tablet and packaging materials. The technology satisfies the principles established by FDA Guidelines for inclusion in pharmaceutics and is equally applicable to food and cosmetic products.

APDN can also DNA-mark other elements of a finished product including bulk Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), cellulosic excipients (bulk fillers) that are used in almost all drug tablets and the commercial binders and enteric coatings that hold prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug tablets together. This unique, multi-factor identification enables verification of its authenticity at any point in the supply chain.

Countries around the world have accelerated their adoption of drug quality regulations in the effort to ensure product integrity and protect patient safety. Regulations covering more than 75% of the global medicine supply by 2018 include packaging standards from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and directives from the U.S. FDA's Title II of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Companies acting now can benefit from SigNature DNA solutions that forensically backstop pharmaceutical traceability.

"The scalability of SigNature DNA for pharmaceuticals solves many supply chain challenges as recently highlighted in Scientific American*. Many of our clients that are using SigNature DNA know that forensic tagging and authentication will protect them from the risk of legal liability and product recall while maintaining profitability and market differentiation," stated Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO, APDN.

* For more information please see article "Authentic Drugs Tagged with Plant DNA Could Help Snare Fake Meds" published in Scientific American on January 12, 2016.

About Applied DNA Sciences

We make life real and safe by providing botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions and services that can help protect products, brands, entire supply chains, and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature® DNA describes the platform ingredient that is at the heart of all of our security and authentication solutions. SigNature DNA is at the core of a family of uncopyable products such as DNAnet®, our anti-theft product, SigNature® T, targeted toward textiles, and digitalDNA®, providing powerful track and trace. All provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators. We are also engaged in the large-scale production of specific DNA sequences using the polymerase chain reaction.

Go to adnas.com for more information, events and to learn more about how Applied DNA Sciences makes life real and safe. Common stock listed on NASDAQ under the symbol APDN, and warrants are listed under the symbol APDNW. 

Forward Looking Statements

The statements made by APDN in this press release may be "forward-looking" in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 14, 2015,and our subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on February 10, 2016 which are available at www.sec.gov. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless otherwise required by law.