Applied DNA Sciences, State Senator Kemp Hannon Host Demonstration of smartDNA to Help Protect Against Pharmacy Robbery

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire - Feb 17, 2012) - Applied DNA Sciences (OTCBB: APDN), based in Long Island, New York, is pleased to announce that its smartDNA anti-intruder mist system is available as a tool to help counter the string of deadly pharmacy robberies which have plagued Long Island in recent months. The Chairman of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Health, Kemp Hannon, alongside Donald Cantalino, a Uniondale, Long Island pharmacy owner, and Applied DNA Sciences President and CEO Dr. James A. Hayward hosted a press conference and demonstration of the smartDNA system at its first Long Island pharmacy installation on Thursday February 16, 2012.

smartDNA, derived from plant DNA, helps to expand and strengthen any security effort by providing a means of directly linking criminals to crimes. In the event of a crime, the fleeing offender is tagged with a DNA-marked fluorescing dye mist. Once the crime is investigated, the DNA mark can assist police in linking the offender and/or stolen items to a specific crime scene, creating a matchless ability to identify and convict. DNA is accepted by courts worldwide as absolute proof of identity.

Senator Hannon said, "This new state-of-the-art technology will provide yet another tool to aid in the prevention of crimes, and will assist law enforcement in the apprehension and convictions of those who perpetrate them." He added: "You can track the person who is robbing. So it improves security, and is almost invisible."

Commented Uniondale Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Donald Cantalino, "It's one thing to be robbed; it's another thing to catch the perpetrator. But if I can now catch the perpetrator and convict him, those are all pieces of the puzzle. I embrace this technology." (Credit: CBS Local)

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences, addressing the media at the event, said: "We want our fellow Long Islanders to feel safe in their local community. We are proud to be able to offer our smartDNA system to regional pharmacies as a tool that will be used as both a deterrent and state-of-the-art crime fighting measure for local law enforcement.

The anti-intruder smartDNA spray system is already installed, and will soon be on line and active in banks on Long Island, and is used in Europe to help protect high-value goods such as in jewelry stores. In addition, the DNA marker used in smartDNA is the same as that in the Applied DNA Sciences system currently used in the United Kingdom to help protect over one quarter of all the cash being moved to and from banks in that country.

At the demonstration, Dr. Hayward expressed his "sorrow and concern" for the families of pharmacy robbery victims, and the "sense of disquiet among pharmacy customers and pharmacists." He noted that, "as a company with deep roots in Long Island, we are ready to add our system to the wider effort now underway to halt these dreadful crimes. In the case of other crimes, our system offers significant deterrence because of the threat DNA embodies to criminals."

He pointed out that the system is available to help protect retail and financial establishments of all kinds.

Senator Hannon has spearheaded an array of initiatives which aim to treat the immediate pharmacy crime problem and its causes, including improved treatment for addiction, prescriptive drug tracking, and drug "take-back" programs. In a white paper, the Senator underlined the scope of the problem, pointing out that in 2010, the last year statistics are available, 22 million prescriptions for pain killers were issued in New York, a larger number then the state's entire population of 19 million.

About APDN
APDN sells patented DNA security solutions to protect products, brands and intellectual property from counterfeiting and diversion. SigNature DNA is a botanical mark used to authenticate products in a unique manner that essentially cannot be copied. Our mark provides 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 8, 2011 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.