APDN Applied DNA Sciences Inc

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2025

  

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-36745 (Commission File Number)

59-2262718 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

50 Health Sciences Drive

Stony Brook, New York 11790

(Address of principal executive offices; zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

631-240-8800

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company  ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value		APDN		The Nasdaq Stock Market

  

 

 

Item 4.01.

Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

On November 1, 2024, CBIZ CPAs P.C. acquired the attest business of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”). On January 24, 2025, Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) was notified by Marcum that Marcum was declining to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm due to CBIZ CPAs P.C.’s acquisition of the attest business of Marcum. On January 24, 2025, Marcum resigned as auditors of the Company and with the approval of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, CBIZ CPAs P.C. was engaged as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.

 

The reports of Marcum regarding the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except for the inclusion of an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

During the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and through January 24, 2025, the date of resignation, there were (a) no disagreements (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused Marcum to make reference to such disagreement in its report and (b) no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions).

 

Prior to engaging CBIZ CPAs P.C., the Company did not consult with CBIZ CPAs P.C. regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or contemplated transaction or regarding the type of audit opinions that might be rendered by CBIZ CPAs P.C. on the Company’s financial statements, and CBIZ CPAs P.C. did not provide any written or oral advice that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue.

 

The Company provided Marcum with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC, pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, stating whether it agrees with the above statements and, if it does not agree, the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of the letter, dated January 30, 2025, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 (which is incorporated by reference herein) to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
16.1		Letter from Marcum dated January 30, 2025
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: January 30, 2025	APPLIED DNA SCIENCES, INC.
	By:	/s/ James A. Hayward
	Name:	James A. Hayward
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

January 30, 2025

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

 

Commissioners:

 

We have read the statements made by Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated January 30, 2025. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K; we are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

Marcum LLP

 

 

v3.24.4

Cover	Jan. 24, 2025
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 24, 2025
Entity File Number	001-36745
Entity Registrant Name	Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000744452
Entity Tax Identification Number	59-2262718
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	50 Health Sciences Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Stony Brook
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	11790
City Area Code	631
Local Phone Number	240-8800
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value
Trading Symbol	APDN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

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