Pilot study proves “Molecular SigNatures™”
persist from the raw plant to the finished extracts and then to
finished nutritional and personal care products. Inherent Aloe DNA
does not suffice.
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (“Applied DNA,” “the company,”
NASDAQ:APDN), has completed initial work under a funded contract
with Lily of the Desert, a leading US-based producer of Aloe vera
products, whose offerings include nutritional drinks, topical
crèmes and gels. The pilot studies defined by the agreement are
designed to demonstrate the feasibility of molecular tagging to
create the industry’s first traceable and authenticated Aloe vera
juices, from raw material to the manufacture of nutritional drinks
and topical consumer products. Applied DNA and Lily of the Desert
are working together to protect consumer supply lines, with Phase
One expected to be completed within the next month.
Extracts of Aloe vera extracts represent a nearly $2 billion
market, with a total mass of more than 60,000 metric tons and are
expected to grow through 2026 at a compounded annual growth rate of
7.7% (Future Market Insights, 2016). The clinical utility of Aloe
vera has been the subject of thousands of studies that document
dermatologic and digestive impact. In a November report last year,
Bloomberg stated there was no chemical evidence of Aloe vera in
gels purported to contain the extract as a primary ingredient in
products sold at Target, Walmart and CVS. A class action suit was
filed in June of 2016 against CVS alleging there was no Aloe vera
extract in their Aloe vera gels.
The challenge lies with traditional methods of verifying the
content of Aloe vera in finished goods, which can be misleading in
complex formulae - a problem that Applied DNA intends to resolve.
Not only is Aloe vera difficult to chemically identify once
processed into finished consumer products, but Applied DNA has
demonstrated that manufacturing processes damage Aloe vera’s native
DNA, making it impossible to rely solely on the traditional Bar
Code of Life (BCOL) DNA for identification.
The solution lies in the laboratory and pilot manufacturing
trials conducted by Applied DNA scientists in collaboration with
Lily of the Desert. The stability and persistence of the Company’s
Molecular SigNature tags have been demonstrated from raw material
to nutritional supplements to fully-processed Aloe vera consumer
products. With the capability to authenticate real Aloe vera juices
throughout the supply chain based on a Molecular SigNatures,
retailers and brands may support their label claims, and provide
reassurance and certainty to consumers.
Dr. Glen Gillis, Vice President of Research and Chief Science
Officer stated, “Proton NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), the
current, accepted analytical technique for a detection of Aloe
quality, has proven to be a powerful and accurate tool for
detection of Aloe vera in many products. But as it is with any
analytical technique, NMR is not without flaws. The application of
'molecular tagging' to Aloe vera, a new and cutting-edge technique
used in tracking of the supply chain from source to shelf, will add
to the industry another layer of protection for both branded
products and end-user confidence.”
The same processes being employed in these pilot studies can be
readily used to provide ingredient verification and supply chain
security to other brands, using other natural extracts, who are
seeking to reassure customers about the quality of their products.
"Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and they want to
know the origins of the ingredients in the cosmetics they purchase.
With our work in Aloe vera, they are getting even more than this.
They are getting forensic proof of where the materials come from,
giving them transparency with certainty," said Dr. Barbara
Brockway, Director of Personal Care at Applied DNA.
Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA, said,
“Since we have previously documented the ability of our Molecular
SigNatures to authenticate Aloe vera, we look forward to receiving
the results of this pilot study which, if successful, have the
potential to open up new commercial markets for the Company. These
tags function as the equivalent of molecular certificates embedded
in the Aloe vera, documenting the extract content as the product is
manufactured and travels through the supply chain. A wide array of
markets, from food to supplements to pharmaceuticals to personal
care, stand to benefit from the specific advantages of this method
of verification, literally at the frontier of supply chain
science.”
About Lily of the Desert
Lily of the Desert owns the organic Aloe vera farms and
processing facilities for manufacturing the numerous unique aloe
vera products that carry our brand name. This is rare amongst Aloe
vera companies in the natural products industry. Our Aloe vera is
grown and processed in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and the
desert of Mexico. Our corporate headquarters are in Denton, Texas.
The Lily of the Desert brand of Aloe vera products is the leader of
the Aloe vera category in the natural products industry, exceeding
the next 6 competitors in total unit sales (ref. SPINS). As a
company, Lily of the Desert has maintained our commitment in
‘Retaining the Quality that Nature Created’ by making aloe vera
products our customers can be confident in buying.
About Applied DNA
Applied DNA is a provider of molecular technologies that enable
supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft
technology, product genotyping and DNA mass production for
diagnostics and therapeutics.
We make 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. The proprietary DNA-based
“CertainT™” platform can be used to identify, tag, test, and track
products, to help assure authenticity, origin, traceability,
sustainability and quality of products. SigNature® DNA describes
the core technology ingredient that is at the heart of a family of
uncopyable, security and authentication solutions such as
SigNature® T and fiberTyping®, targeted toward textiles and
apparel, BackTrac™ and DNAnet®, for anti-theft and loss prevention,
and digitalDNA®, providing powerful track- and-trace. All provide a
forensic chain of evidence, and can be used to prosecute
perpetrators. Applied DNA Sciences is also engaged in the
large-scale production of specific DNA sequences using the
polymerase chain reaction.
Visit adnas.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter and
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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 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
6, 2016, and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on
February 9, 2017, and May 11, 2017 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.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170627005455/en/
Investor Relations:LHAISanjay Hurry,
212-838-3777orMedia:Dian Griesel Int’lSusan Forman,
212-825-3210orProgram:Applied DNADr. Barbara Brockway, +44
(0) 7484725053web: www.adnas.comtwitter:
@APDN
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