Atossa Genetics Co-Sponsors Los Angeles Premiere of Decoding Annie Parker, Starring Helen Hunt

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 16, 2013) - Seattle-based Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company™, today announced its sponsorship of the Los Angeles premiere of Decoding Annie Parker, a new film starring Helen Hunt, tomorrow, September 17, 2013, at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. Atossa has created the ForeCYTE Breast Health test -- available now -- which non-invasively and painlessly determines the presence of precancerous cells and assesses a women's future risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Steven Quay, Chairman, CEO & President of Atossa Genetics, stated, "Atossa Genetics is singularly focused on assessing breast cancer risk with our ForeCYTE Breast Health Test -- launched in January and available throughout the United States -- and preventing breast cancer by developing and commercializing an investigative intraductal therapy approach to treat pre-cancerous abnormalities, including ductal carcinoma in situ.

"Recent news stories about the increasing number of women with BRCA1 gene mutations having prophylactic bilateral mastectomy to reduce the risk of breast cancer have thrust the entire area of breast cancer risk assessment and prevention to the fore. We believe that our ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, which analyzes cells from the linings of the milk ducts where approximately 95 percent of breast cancers arise, provides women and their doctors with crucial information upon which to make more informed treatment decisions. For all those women who are concerned about their risk of breast cancer or who may be considering preventive bilateral mastectomy, we believe our test provides crucial information that will have a direct bearing on the decision making process," Dr. Quay added.

Decoding Annie Parker, directed by Steven Bernstein, honors the lives of two inspirational women impacted by breast cancer: Dr. Mary-Claire King, a geneticist at the University of Washington, who defied medical convention by looking for and finding the BRCA1 gene, now known to cause breast cancer, and Ann Parker, who struggles with breast cancer on more intimate terms after being diagnosed with breast cancer herself and having had to watch both her mother and sister succumb to the disease. The film stars Helen Hunt, who gives yet another inspiring performance in the role of Dr. King in her singular quest for the breast cancer gene.

"I am very excited about the potential of Atossa's ForeCYTE Breast Health Test to help prevent breast cancer so that fewer women will receive a devastating diagnosis or have to endure months or years of treatment," stated Steven Bernstein, Director of Decoding Annie Parker. "I am pleased to support Atossa Genetics in its quest to prevent breast cancer by producing a 90-second commercial on the ForeCYTE test, which will be shown tomorrow for the first time at the Los Angeles premier of Decoding Annie Parker." 

Additional information about Decoding Annie Parker is available at http://www.decodingannieparkerfilm.com/.

Atossa Genetics is proud to co-sponsor Decoding Annie Parker and to support the efforts of Dr. King's lab at the University of Washington and its mission to further understand the role of genetics of breast cancer.

About the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, intended for the 110 million women in the U.S. ages 18 to 73, is a painless, quick and non-invasive procedure that can be done in a physician's office. The test specimens are then analyzed at Atossa's laboratory, The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, Inc. (NRLBH), which can provide vital early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions that may progress to cancer over an approximately eight year period and before cancer can be detected by mammography or other means and without the risks of radiation, especially in women younger than age 50. No invasive biopsy needles or open surgical incisions are used in the Atossa test.

Just as the Pap smear has reduced cervical cancer rates by over 70 percent, becoming the most successful screening test in medicine, the goal of Atossa Genetics is to reduce the stubbornly high rate of breast cancer through the early detection of the precursor changes that can lead to breast cancer and the treatment of those early changes. For more information, please visit getforecyte.com.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The NRLBH, patented, laboratory developed tests that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

The NRLBH is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington.

For additional information, on Atossa and the NRLBH, please visit www.atossagenetics.com and www.nrlbh.com. For further information on the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, please visit www.getforecyte.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with actions by the FDA, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, Atossa's ability to continue to manufacture and sell its products, the efficacy of Atossa's products and services, the market demand for and acceptance of Atossa's products and services, performance of distributors and other risks detailed from time to time in Atossa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.