Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: APDN) -- Launching an
unprecedented initiative in the way goods are protected from
counterfeiting, two companies have partnered to offer product
packaging which identifies their contents and provenance using
botanical DNA.
Disc Graphics, Inc. (DISC), using technology from Applied DNA
Sciences, Inc., has announced that as of November 1, DISC will mark
every carton produced for customers of the company with botanical
DNA markers, representing a code which indelibly carries the
pedigree and authenticity of each product.
The DNA marking is the centerpiece of a layered,
multi-technology program against counterfeits and tampering, which
DISC calls P.A.S.S. Marking labels with DNA is also planned as a
key element of the P.A.S.S. program.
Under P.A.S.S., since every carton will be pre-marked with the
DNA code, DISC customers are offered the ability to submit suspect
packaging to APDN's lab for authentication as part of a licensing
program. As John Rebecchi, Senior Vice President of Marketing and
Business Development for DISC, explains: "The companies which use
our packaging and labels will automatically be part of our
industry-leading authentication program which will highly
differentiate their product."
Scope of DNA Marking Program
The scope of the DNA marking program for DISC is vast. DISC
produces several hundred million cartons and labels each year, for
a diverse range of markets. The company produces pressure sensitive
labels for over-the-counter pharmaceutical, vitamin, and healthcare
markets, including retailers selling pharmaceuticals -- CVS and
Walgreens -- as well as prescription and specialized pharmaceutical
industries, cosmetics, perfumes, DVDs and others.
"We are very serious about providing all of our clients with the
latest forensic authentication technologies to combat the
increasing influx of counterfeit packaging and the resulting brand
erosion they face across the globe," said Margaret Krumholz,
president of DISC.
Mr. Rebecchi noted:
"Clients have the option of extending our blanket DNA protection
with uniquely sequenced DNA markers developed exclusively for them
by our partner, Applied DNA Sciences. They can also combine any of
the choices in each level of the P.A.S.S. program to achieve
strong, multi-layered protection."
Mr. Rebecchi stated that effective November 1, 2011 the P.A.S.S.
program will be fully operational.
David Wigfield, Vice President of Sales at Applied DNA Sciences,
observed:
"As printers worldwide look for ways to differentiate their
offering to brands and marketing departments, Disc Graphics has
targeted a fast growing challenge to their customers; protecting
brand equity from diversion and counterfeit. Employing APDN
botanical markers and other cutting edge technology gives DISC a
unique offering that recovers revenue for their customers and
creates new options to protect the supply chain."
DNA markers: versatile, uncopyable
APDN offers a range of DNA-based security solutions. Unique DNA
markers are versatile and stable and essentially cannot be copied.
The DNA marking will not alter qualities of products and does not
require major changes to the manufacturing process or logistic
chain.
Dr. James A. Hayward, APDN President and CEO, commented:
"APDN is thrilled that our strategic relationship with DISC can
offer the industry's most advanced and secure technology to combat
counterfeit products in critical market segments like
pharmaceuticals. Our services can provide irrefutable
authentication of products, thus assuring consumers that they are
receiving legitimate products."
Dr. Hayward pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry, with a
concentration around New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, is well
positioned to take advantage of the new program. The severe
negative health consequences of counterfeit medicines are an
increasing concern of the companies and consumers.
APDN DNA-based product verification has been tested in the heat
of some of the world's most demanding businesses, including marking
of currency for trucks carrying cash in the United Kingdom, and in
an extensive pilot for the Department of Defense, marking
microchips bound for the military supply chain. The company also
marks luxury items such as the famous guitars produced by the C.F.
Martin Company.
ABOUT DISC
DISC is a leading producer of packaging and print for the
beauty, healthcare, private label, entertainment media and consumer
products industries. Headquartered in Hauppauge, NY, DISC is a
privately held company whose manufacturing facilities are located
in California, New Jersey and New York. FSC Chain-of-Custody
certified since 2007 and an EPA Green Power Partner, the company
promotes sustainable packaging practices through its DISCover Green
program and manufactures under strict adherence to ISO 9001:2008
and FDA cGMP standards. DISC offers a range of advanced
capabilities for prepress and design services, digital, flexo and
offset printing, and finishing and converting for paperboard,
plastic and mini-flute corrugate packaging as well as
pressure-sensitive and extended-content labels.
About APDN
APDN sells patent-protected DNA security solutions to protect
products, brands and intellectual property from counterfeiting and
diversion. APDN's botanical markers are used to authenticate
products in a unique manner that essentially cannot be copied, and
provide a forensic chain of evidence that can be used to prosecute
perpetrators. To learn more, go to www.adnas.com where APDN
routinely posts all press releases.
The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature.
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, 2010 and our subsequent
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. 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.
INVESTOR CONTACT: Debbie Bailey 631-444-8090 fax: 631-444-8848
MEDIA CONTACT: Mitchell Miller fax: 631-444-8848 Email Contact FCMN
Contact: Email Contact Web site: http://www.adnas.com Twitter:
@APDN, @APDNInvestor
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