Applied DNA Sciences Partners With Palmetto Synthetics and Techmer PM, Entering Synthetic Fibers for First Time, Expanding in Athletic Apparel and Automotive Textile Markets

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwired - June 07, 2016) - Applied DNA Sciences (ADNAS), Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN), a provider of DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting, genotyping and anti-theft technology, and authentication technologies, has partnered with Palmetto Synthetics, a leader in the production of high quality, specialty synthetic fiber and Techmer PM, a leading materials design company, to launch its SigNature^® T DNA system in synthetic fibers, and expand its presence in the athletic apparel industry and the automotive textile category.

Palmetto Synthetics fiber has many uses, but is best known in the apparel, automotive and industrial applications. Fibers are used in trunk liners and throughout the interior of cars in the visible surface materials. In addition, the fiber manufactured by Palmetto is also used in other polyester and nylon fabrics such as footwear, performance apparel, geotextiles fabrics for erosion control, roofing products and filtration media. Palmetto Synthetics fiber types include, but are not limited to: PET; PETG; PBT; PA6, 6; PLA; as well as a line of post consumer recycled fibers. Palmetto Synthetics also employs a wealth of additive and finish technology along with a wide range of cross-section availability for fiber customization.

"We have an eye to the future, and it has arrived with SigNature T DNA technology," said David Poston, President of Palmetto Synthetics. "This sets a new industry standard in assuring quality and purity at the source. SigNature T DNA ensures traceability and transparency at every stage of the supply chain, with performance and strength delivered consistently. We are honored to be working with ADNAS and Techmer, and excited about the many benefits this partnership will bring to consumers and manufacturers."

Recently, in Clinton, Tennessee, unique SigNature T DNA molecular tags were attached to Techmer PM polyester formulations and supplied to Palmetto, who used them to manufacture polyester fiber. The Techmer PM formulation is a component of a system of solutions for fiber that includes colors and additives. These fibers were converted into synthetic fabrics for commercial and industrial applications. The initial stage tagged five million lbs. of PET fiber. The process will be scaled up to many millions of lbs. over the next year.

SigNature T DNA solution now tags natural and synthetic fibers at industrial scale, and maintains a secure chain of custody as the product moves from source (pellets in the case of synthetics) to fiber to product to consumer.

"We are proud to partner with Applied DNA Sciences and Palmetto to commercialize DNA marking and authentication within fiber applications," said John Manuck, Founder and CEO, Techmer PM. "As a leader in materials design, we are constantly looking for opportunities to create innovations which benefit our customers and OEMs, and this partnership underscores that commitment."

Techmer PM is a leading materials designer and works in partnership with plastics processors, OEMs, and designers to solve some of their most difficult business, manufacturing, and sustainability challenges. Techmer PM's solutions modify the aesthetics as well as extend and maintain the physical properties of plastic and fiber products. In partnership with Applied DNA Sciences, Techmer PM can now integrate Signature T DNA into solutions for its customers to ensure integrity of the entire supply chain.

"We have been a change agent for the cotton fiber market, by bringing certainty to a complex supply chain. With our entry into synthetic fibers, Applied DNA Sciences is entering a market that is more than three-times larger than cotton, and is the basis of 60% of the global textile industry," said Dr. James Hayward, President and CEO of ADNAS. "In just one DNA tagging campaign, companies can safeguard against product recalls and liability, and elevate their business, based on high integrity, quality, and sustainability to ensure the smallest possible environmental footprint."

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. Our patented DNA-based solutions can be used to identify, tag, track, and trace products, to help assure authenticity, traceability and quality of products. SigNature^® DNA describes the platform ingredient that is at the heart of a family of uncopyable, security and authentication solutions such as SigNature^® T and fiberTyping^®, targeted toward textiles and apparel, DNAnet^®, for anti-theft and loss prevention, 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.