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James Hayward

Biotech October 16, 2018

At LineaRX, putting the horsepower behind the CAR T

By GREGORY ZELLER // Marking a big step in the war against cancer, a Stony Brook-based startup has initiated pre-clinical development of a non-viral, plasmid-free chimeric antigen receptor modified T-cell manufacturing platform. In English: A novel platform designed to develop and manufacture new pharmaceutical treatments, including treatments for different forms of cancer. The tech comes from LineaRx Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that officially spun off from Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences in September. Noting…

Biotech September 18, 2018

With new spinoff, biotech goes all-in on DNA sales

By GREGORY ZELLER // A Stony Brook biotech with a growing international reputation for supply-chain security has spun off a new company focused on DNA modification and production. Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences on Tuesday announced the formation of LineaRx Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that will concentrate on commercializing the parent company’s extensive experience in the design, manufacture and chemical modification of DNA by large-scale polymerase chain reaction – big news for scientists working…

Biotech July 24, 2018

For Applied DNA, ETCH Biotrace may be a pot of gold

By GREGORY ZELLER // Just six months after announcing a partnership to develop a new molecular-tracking system, a Long Island biotech and a Canadian medical-marijuana supplier are launching the world’s first cannabis tagging system. Stony Brook-based supply-chain, anti-counterfeiting, anti-theft and product-authentication specialist Applied DNA Sciences and Calgary-based pharmaceutical-solutions provider TheraCann International Benchmark Corp. on Tuesday announced the launch of ETCH Biotrace, which leverages Applied DNA’s CertainT platform to tag, test and track cannabis plants “in…

Biotech July 12, 2018

In Applied DNA’s new UL partnership, it’s safety first

By GREGORY ZELLER // A new deal with a worldwide safe-sciences leader will expand a Long Island innovator’s already-impressive global reach. Illinois-based UL, known primarily as Underwriters Laboratories for most of its 124-year history, has reached a “commercial agreement” with Applied DNA Sciences that will “lay the foundation for a significant new development in product authentication and supply-chain traceability,” according to a statement from Applied DNA. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the partnership will…

Awards and Events April 26, 2018

Morning of a thousand stars

(Photos by Bob Giglione) A dazzling array of sensational scientists, energetic entrepreneurs and regional rainmakers gathered April 24 for the 2018 Innovator of the Year Awards. Innovate Long Island’s third-annual innovation celebration, held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, honored 2018 Master of Innovation Michael Faltischek, senior partner at Uniondale law firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek and chairman of the Long Island Angel Network. The breakfast banquet also recognized more than 40 of the…

Biotech April 5, 2018

Memo to Applied DNA: It’s payday in Pennsylvania

By GREGORY ZELLER // Memorandums of understanding are swell and all, but for a scrappy enterprise forever waging a bottom-line battle, nothing beats getting paid. So, Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences should be very happy to receive the first of two “milestone payments” accompanying the March 31 signing of a new licensing deal with Pennsylvania manufacturer Colorcon Inc. Announced Thursday, the license and cooperation agreement grants Colorcon the exclusive worldwide right to add Applied DNA’s…

Biotech March 20, 2018

Applied DNA won’t let the bed thugs bite

By GREGORY ZELLER // You’ll sleep better knowing your gorgeous new bedding comes from 100 percent source-verified recycled plastic. So say global textiles manufacturer GHCL Ltd. and Applied DNA Sciences, the Stony Brook-based biotech that’s infusing its proprietary CertainT platform into the India-based conglomerate’s new Rekoop brand of bedding products. The CertainT molecular tagging and tracking technology will authenticate recycled plastics being spun into metaphorical gold: GHCL’s Rekoop line of bedsheets, pillowcases and shams, debuting…

Biotech March 6, 2018

Applied DNA journeys deeper into India, and pharma

By GREGORY ZELLER // A new professional collaboration will deepen a Long Island biotech’s ties with global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers. Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences has signed a memorandum of understanding with India-based global pharmaceutical conglomerate ACG Worldwide, which is tapping into the Long Island firm’s molecular-based authentication services. The MoU – which is “expected to be followed by a definitive agreement,” according to Applied DNA – will apply the biotech’s SigNature molecular tagging…

Biotech January 25, 2018

Smoking-hot biotech sparks key cannabis contract

By GREGORY ZELLER // It’s another new high for Applied DNA Sciences. Just days after introducing a new satellite laboratory in India to service its growing Asian-Pacific customer base, the Stony Brook-based biotech lit up again Thursday, announcing a new contract to develop molecular tracking systems for a worldwide network of legal cannabis supplies. The two-year, $1 million development and marketing agreement with Canadian supplier TheraCann International Benchmark Corp. – which provides turn-key pharmaceutical solutions…

Biotech January 23, 2018

For Applied DNA, a lucrative new passage to India

By GREGORY ZELLER // Growing interest from Asian-Pacific textile manufacturers has prompted a Long Island biotech to establish a new testing laboratory in India. Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences on Tuesday announced the opening of its new Central DNA Testing Laboratory in Ahmedabad, a city of 5.6 million residents in the Western India state of Gujarat, a manufacturing and distribution hub advancing cotton and other textiles, as well as fertilizers, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. From there,…

Biotech January 9, 2018

Applied DNA catches Irish robber blue/green-handed

By GREGORY ZELLER // Already the bane of Swedish car thieves, Applied DNA Sciences has now notched its first armed-robbery criminal conviction in Ireland. The latest international adventure for the Stony Brook-based anti-theft and product-authentication specialist and its ever-evolving roster of vertical markets takes us to the Emerald Isle, where evidence gathered through the biotech’s SigNature DNA platform has helped convict a thug involved in a violent theft. According to Applied DNA, the case involves…

Biotech December 18, 2017

Missiles, cars, leather … finally, biotech pushes pills

By GREGORY ZELLER // A biotech with a penchant for leather, foreign automobiles, high-tech weaponry and next-gen digital imaging is finally getting around to pharmaceuticals. Actually, that’s not true – Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences has already this year announced multiple pharma-nutra-focused forays, including the production of DNA chains for in-vitro diagnostic and DNA-based therapeutic research purposes. But in announcing a technology license memorandum of understanding with Pennsylvania-based “hard dose” specialist Colorcon Inc., Applied DNA…

Biotech December 5, 2017

Applied DNA is talking Turkey (and West Africa, too)

By GREGORY ZELLER // Applied DNA Sciences is in one of those modes again: another week, another big leap into a potentially lucrative geographic or vertical market. This week, it’s geographic, with a new federal mandate in the Republic of Turkey aiding the Stony Brook biotech’s efforts to develop new business there. Applied DNA on Tuesday announced plans to introduce DNA-tagged fertilizer to Turkey and countries in West Africa and Asia, amidst strong interest in…

Biotech November 30, 2017

As biopharma blossoms, ace DNA producer locks in

By GREGORY ZELLER // Applied DNA Sciences has long proclaimed textiles – your cotton shirt, your leather shoes and the industries that produce them – as its primary vertical market, the ideal sector in which to apply its patented DNA-based security and authentication protocols. But a wholly different use for its coveted DNA supplies may soon eclipse textile-tracking as the Stony Brook biotech’s primary moneymaker. That’s the word from President and CEO James Hayward, who…

Biotech November 6, 2017

Applied DNA earns new SigNature patent, more T’d up

By GREGORY ZELLER // Applied DNA Sciences has added two new U.S. patents to its impressive collection – at least, a new patent-and-a-half. The Stony Brook-based supply-chain, anti-counterfeiting, anti-theft and product-authentication specialist announced this week the arrival of U.S. Patent No. 9,790,538, covering “Alkaline Activation for Immobilization of DNA Taggants” – essentially, protecting the core technology powering Applied DNA’s SigNature T molecular tags. The biotech also announced a Notice of Allowance on U.S. Patent Application…