Applied DNA Sciences Reaches Conviction Milestone

SigNature(R) DNA Has Helped Convict Over 100 Criminals


STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwired - September 09, 2015) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology, product genotyping and product authentication solutions, announced today that the number of CViT convictions attributed to the use of SigNature® DNA in cash boxes has risen to 101 with prison sentences of over 470 years. SigNature DNA forensic markers are helping the police to identify stolen cash and to link the evidence directly to the perpetrators.

SigNature DNA has been used since 2009 in Europe within the ink and / or smoke systems of Intelligent Bank Note Neutralisation Systems (IBNS), more commonly known as cash boxes and ATM cassettes. Unique, botanical DNA marks are incorporated into each IBNS during manufacture. Once activated, bank notes and offenders are covered in SigNature DNA, providing a definitive, forensic link between stained bank notes and criminals.

Loomis, a user of SigNature DNA, won an award from the International Association of Currency Affairs for its use of SigNature DNA. Applied DNA Sciences and the Lancashire Constabulary, a police force in Northwest UK, received the coveted "POP" (Problem Oriented Policing) Award in 2011, as well as the Excellence in Policing Award in 2010.

Some of the highlights from the 101 convictions include:

  • Criminals who shot a Cash in Transit security guard in the leg during a robbery were caught by Police when trying to spend some of the stolen cash at a petrol station -- SigNature DNA assigned to the cash box was found on the bank notes and the criminals clothing, car and smartphones.
  • SigNature DNA successfully recovered from a car dashboard led to the conviction of a team of criminals who were described by Police as "prolific and very dangerous."
  • Armed robbers and a large team of drug dealers were convicted of robbery and drug dealing due to the evidence provided by SigNature DNA.
  • Significant amounts of cash recovered by Police have been returned to Cash in Transit companies, as APDN was able to prove the bank notes came from specific robberies / cash boxes.

Tony Benson, Managing Director for APDN covering EMEA said, "We started supplying SigNature DNA in the UK and have steadily grown the use of this product to most Countries across Europe supported by the IBNS manufacturers and end users. DNA is well known by most people and when criminals are confronted by our expert witness report they admit to the crimes. Courts are confident in the evidence provided by SigNature DNA and appear to give out robust prison sentences. We have many more cases currently going through the judicial process so the number of criminal convictions will undoubtedly continue to rise."

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 uncopiable products such as DNAnet®, our anti-theft product, SigNature®T and fiberTyping®, targeted toward textiles, and digitalDNA®, providing powerful track and trace. All provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

Applied DNA Sciences common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol APDN, and its 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 15, 2014, as amended on March 6, 2015, and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on February 9, 2015, May 11, 2015 and August 10, 2015, 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.

Contact Information:

Investor contact:
Debbie Bailey
631-240-8817

twitter: @APDN