– Assay under development uses PCR-based detection of viral sequences that code for the Spike protein that is also the target of the Company’s vaccine candidate with Takis Biotech –
– messenger RNA abundance for Spike in host cells should yield high sensitivity –
STONY BROOK, N.Y., March 19, 2020 – Applied DNA Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (“Applied DNA” or the “Company”), a leader in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA manufacturing for product authenticity, traceability solutions, nucleic acid-based biotherapeutic development, and diagnostics, announced today the completion of design of a diagnostic kit for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19) being developed for production via the Company’s proprietary PCR-based DNA (LinearDNA™) manufacturing process.
The Company’s announcement follows its statement on March 2, 2020, updating their collaborative progress with Takis Biotech, in Rome, Italy, on a series of LinearDNA™ vaccine candidates against the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Yesterday’s announcement highlighted that the preclinical trials for the jointly developed vaccines have been authorized by the Italian Ministry of Health, and are the first trials in Italy to have reached this stage.
The recently designed novel diagnostic kit focuses on the gene that encodes the surface spike (S) protein, an essential glycoprotein for viral entry into human host cells. Said Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA: “We aligned 74 variants of the S-gene sequence currently available in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) database. This gene is highly conserved, being close to 100% (99.97%) identical across variants; meaning that detection via our diagnostic kit under development should be consistent even against the capacity for this virus to mutate. We believe that we are the first company to engage both in detection and prevention of COVID-19.”
“After in-silico analysis, the assay appears highly accurate and specific for SARS-CoV-2”, said Yuha Sun, Director of Applied Genomics at Applied DNA, and one of the developers of the assay. “Applied DNA plans to conduct in-vitro verification of the in-silico analysis in the coming weeks.”
“Because the Spike protein is very abundant on the virus surface, many copies of the messenger RNA are present per host cell, increasing, we believe, the probable sensitivity of the diagnostic,” said Dr. Mohan Chellani, Director of Diagnostic Regulatory Affairs at Applied DNA.
The Company will undertake the PCR-based manufacture of the positive controls for its proposed kit under its LinearDNA platform and believes that its capacity for such manufacture is unmatched anywhere in the world. “We are approaching partners for the validation of our pending diagnostic with samples from confirmed COVID-19 patients,” continued Dr. Hayward. “We believe our capacity for PCR-based manufacture of linear DNA could be of utility to other diagnostic and vaccine manufacturers.”
Applied DNA makes clear that no commercial partner has been identified to take the developmental diagnostic to market, nor is there any indication that the Company’s diagnostics would be approved by regulators. The assay will use the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real Time PCR instrument, widely deployed in diagnostic labs and hospitals the world over. Once fully validated and ready for shipment, the Company plans to sell the diagnostic kit as “For Research Use only” while awaiting the potential Emergency Use Authorization by FDA, which would empower sales to diagnostic labs.
About Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.
Applied DNA is a provider of molecular technologies that enable supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping, diagnostics and pre-clinical nucleic acid-based therapeutic drug candidates.
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Common stock listed on NASDAQ under the symbol APDN.
LinearDNA™ is a trademark of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements made by Applied DNA in this press release may be “forward-looking” in nature within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform 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 the possibility of a failure to make timely payment on its outstanding secured convertible notes and resulting enforcement by noteholders of remedies on collateral which includes substantially all of Applied DNA’s assets, its history of net losses, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, the fact that there has never been a commercial drug product utilizing PCR-produced DNA technology approved for therapeutic use, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including whether any of Applied DNA’s or its partners product candidates will advance further in the preclinical research or clinical trial process, including receiving clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies to conduct clinical trials and whether and when, if at all, they will receive final approval from the U.S. FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies, the unknown outcome of any applications to U.S. FDA 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 12, 2019 and our subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on February 6, 2020, 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 or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless otherwise required by law.
Investor contact: Sanjay M. Hurry, LHA Investor Relations, 212-838-3777, shurry@lhai.com
Program contact: Brian Viscount, Applied DNA, 631-240-8877, brian.viscount@adnas.com
Web: www.adnas.com | twitter: @APDN
