Applied DNA Announces Publication of Peer-Reviewed Journal Article Validating Potential Use of linearDNA as a New Class of DNA-Based Vaccines

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (the “Company”), a leader in PCR-based DNA technologies, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed research article in Molecular Therapy – Methods & Clinical Development. The study, titled ‘A linear DNA vaccine candidate encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain elicits protective immunity in domestic cats,’ supports the further development of the Company’s LinearDNA platform for the large-scale enzymatic (PCR, polymerase chain reaction) production of prophylactic and therapeutic linearDNA-based vaccines. An initial manuscript detailing the study’s findings was published in preprint form on bioRxiv in July 2022.

The study demonstrated safety and immunogenicity of a linearDNA vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of family-owned felines. Prime-boost vaccinations were administered by electro-gene-transfer intramuscularly to the cohort, which induced robust neutralizing antibody titers and cellular immune responses. The study was performed in conjunction with development partner EvviVax, S.R.L.

“This peer-reviewed publication supports the innovative work we and our partners are conducting to advance linearDNA as a potential new class of human and veterinary therapeutics that combines the rapid design and manufacturing capabilities akin to mRNA therapies with the thermostability and relative manufacturing simplicity of linearDNA. Adding to already robust data supporting the potential of linearDNA in-hand, this study and others being conducted and planned make a compelling case for linearDNA as a next-generation, DNA-based vaccine platform, in addition to its utility in the manufacture of other nucleic acid-based therapies, such as mRNA and CAR T therapies,” stated Dr. James A. Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA.

Concurrently, the Company is working to optimize the delivery in vivo of linearDNA to increase its ease of administration via LNPs that, if successful, would represent a significant turning point in increasing the commercial viability of linearDNA. The Company is currently progressing two LNP-related studies in parallel:

• One, the Company is working with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to test whether a linearDNA vaccine encapsulated with an off-the-shelf LNP formulation can elicit a successful immune response when delivered via intramuscular injection to an animal model. If successful, it would mark the first time that LNP-encapsulated linearDNA would be shown to be immunogenic, thereby potentially opening the door for both prophylactic and therapeutic LNP-linearDNA veterinary vaccines;

• Two, the Company is working with a well-respected CDMO on an optimized LNP formulation for use with linearDNA. The goal of this study is to identify or develop a cost-effective LNP formulation that maximizes linearDNA’s immunogenicity in vivo. This study is currently underway, and early-stage in vitro screening studies have already been completed.

Concluded Dr. Hayward, “Our development work spanning linearDNA and LNP targets our first entry into the field of veterinary medicine, specifically the veterinary immuno-oncology market via a licensed DNA-based vaccine construct that has previously demonstrated compelling efficacy in canine models in plasmid form. We believe that linearDNA is well suited to address veterinary cancers, a leading disease-related killer of dogs, via a de-risked development path that minimizes therapy development costs and timelines while also generating additional data for its potential application to human health.”