Applied DNA Closes the Loop on Traceability for Egyptian Pima with Genotyping Assays for Cotton Authentication

Applied
DNA Sciences, Inc. (“Applied DNA,” “the Company,” NASDAQ: APDN),
today announced that it has closed the loop on traceability for Egyptian
Pima using DNA-based genotyping assays for cotton authentication. These
assays have been used to verify fiber and will be extended to yarn,
fabric and finished goods in an ongoing validation program. The Egyptian
Pima developments join and expand a series of US Pima cotton assays
performed within Applied DNA testing services and are based on work
conducted over the past 3 years related to the validation of a known
library of cotton cultivar standards.

“This solution closes the loop for the cotton industry that has been
under a cloud of controversy surrounding evidence of cotton products
labeled as Egyptian cotton versus those which are actually grown in
Egypt. There is no substitute for DNA analysis when it comes to cotton
traceability and transparency because of its ability to do what other
technologies cannot do, which is to forensically authenticate the fiber
through to yarn and finished goods,” stated Dr. Michael Hogan, vice
president, Life Sciences, Applied DNA. When paired with SigNature^®
T DNA tagging, testing and tracking of cotton at the gin, it is expected
that these new cotton assays, along with other methods of fiber
quantitation in the development pipeline at Applied DNA, can now broaden
our multiple-parameter analysis to verify the type of cotton, the
cotton’s origin, and the blending of the cotton fiber (both valid and
surreptitious) during the journey from the ginned fiber to a finished
textile product.

In August 2016, the controversy of home bedding and other products
labeled 100% Egyptian Cotton hit an all-time high when a number of US
retailers recalled many products from retail shelves due to label claim
violations, and consumers were informed that products did not meet the
standard or label requirement. Three years later, Applied DNA will begin
to validate and market test products that are labeled to contain 100%
Egyptian Pima in addition to these services for US Pima. Recently, a federal
judge ruled that several “Big Box” stores must face lawsuits
claiming they sold linens falsely labeled “Egyptian Cotton.” Applied DNA
believes its new Egyptian genotyping assays could assist in protecting
against such an imbroglio if the retailers used this technology in their
supply chains to verify their goods.

“Our cotton authentication platform of SigNature T and genotyping can
provide a means for quality control and compliance in supply chains.
Many products use cotton grown in the US and Egypt, and we believe that
our system can provide a useful tool to enable brands and manufacturers
to verify their products at any stage of the supply chain, that is more
exact than other methods claiming to do the same without the same degree
of precision,” stated Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied
DNA.

“The Himatsingka Group remains committed to bringing cotton traceability
for all major varietals of cotton including Egyptian cotton, while
maintaining the highest standards of traceability solutions and quality
control mechanisms. We applaud Applied DNA for advancing the solutions
for the cotton industry as we believe that DNA science is the new
standard for purity and authenticity,” stated Shrikant Himatsingka, CEO
of The Himatsingka Group.

About Applied DNA Sciences

Applied DNA is a provider of molecular technologies that enable supply
chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product
genotyping and pre-clinical nucleic acid-based therapeutic drug
candidates.

Applied DNA makes life real and safe by providing innovative,
molecular-based technology 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.

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Common stock listed on NASDAQ under the symbol APDN, and warrants are
listed under the symbol APDNW.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements made by Applied DNA 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 Applied
DNA’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 Applied DNA. Actual results
could differ materially from those projected due to its history of net
losses, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, ability
to maintain its NASDAQ listing and various other factors detailed from
time to time in Applied DNA’s SEC reports and filings, including our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 18, 2018 and our subsequent
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on February 7, 2019 and May 9,
2019, and other reports we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.
Applied DNA 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.

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