Applied DNA Sciences Provides Farm-to-Finished Goods Traceability in Long Term Arrangement with Key US Retailer

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwired - December 14, 2016) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. ("Applied DNA or the Company") (NASDAQ: APDN), a provider of DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and product authentication solutions, is pleased to announce that through one of its partners, the Company will provide its SigNature T DNA products and services platform to empower textile supply chain security for one of the largest US-based retailers over an extended multi-year period with established revenue thresholds.

Early products are hitting stores now after tagging in FY15. A larger launch is yet to come.

Stated Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences, "The textile industry is under increased pressure to deliver high quality products at competitive prices. Price competition can lead to compromise in the supply chain. The retailer that selected SigNature T over and above any other system in the world did so because they learned first-hand what it means to truly know your supply chain. Assuring quality in complex global supply chains is no small task and is too often under-estimated. It requires commitment not only in time and resources, but a genuine belief that if you start with the purest fiber, your trusted network will keep it in your product to perform as nature intended."

Applied DNA's flagship SigNature T DNA platform is used for tagging cotton fibers at the source gin followed by forensic authentication of the textiles product itself from fiber to finished goods. The adoption of the SigNature T platform, as opposed to any other taggant, provides forensic proof of identity and purity using genotyping of species, and authentication of the SigNature T tag at every step for full end-to-end traceability. The tagging and testing process and data are managed through the Company's digitalDNA® cloud-based platform.

"Consumer buying decisions are increasingly linked to authentic practices promised by retailers and brands. We believe this is a model for other retailers and brands looking to make a difference with their consumers by acting from farm-forward in their supply chain to produce, market and sell a genuine product that is like no other. SigNature T is the core of a truly global platform that gives retailers and brands an unbeatable advantage in transforming the entire supply chain to keep their textiles real and safe," commented Dr. Hayward.

Applied DNA Sciences is collaborating with other leading industry partners, brands and retailers in expanding the application of SigNature T for other textile fibers, yarns and fabrics requiring proof-of-origin and claims support for traceability, sustainability and quality.

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 6, 2016, which is 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.