Pressure BioSciences' PCT Platform Results in a Promising New Method for Improved Extraction of DNA from Rape Kits and other Forensic Samples

SOUTH EASTON, Mass., July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO) ("PBI" and the "Company"), a leader in the development and sale of broadly enabling, pressure cycling technology ("PCT")-based sample preparation solutions to the worldwide life sciences industry, today announced the development of a two-step, PCT-enhanced method for the selective differential extraction of male or female DNA from mixtures of sperm and vaginal epithelial cells recovered from cotton swabs.  The results of the study were recently published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal.  The authors of the paper were Dr. Deepthi V. Nori and Dr. Bruce R. McCord of the Department of Chemistry, Florida International University ("FIU").

For years, biological samples for forensic analysis (e.g., body fluids) have been collected using cotton swabs.  Unfortunately, sample recovery (e.g., cells, DNA) from these swabs can be cumbersome, time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Often the biological sample is trapped in the swab's cotton fibers, resulting in a loss of precious evidence. Over the years, there have been many attempts to develop new methods to improve the speed and quality and to reduce the cost of recovering biological samples from cotton swabs, including the recovery of DNA from swabs taken after a sexual assault.   

Dr. McCord, Associate Director of FIU's International Forensic Research Institute ("IFRI") and principal investigator of the study, said: "Our study presents a novel technique to extract biological fluids from cotton swabs with high recovery, using PCT combined with alkaline lysis.  This new method has shown decreased processing times and higher yields while using inexpensive reagents on a semi-automated platform.  Although there is still work to be done, results to date indicate this PCT-based technique is a promising new method for extraction of DNA from forensic evidentiary materials, including rape kits."

News reports point to a current national backlog of more than 400,000 untested rape kits, sitting in storage and awaiting processing and analysis. Unfortunately, each untested kit may be allowing a rapist to remain free.  New sexual assault cases, estimated at 180,000 annually, tragically add to this backlog.

Mr. Richard T. Schumacher, President and CEO of PBI, said: "We believe this novel, PCT-dependent method represents a potential breakthrough in the recovery of high quality DNA from cotton swabs. Next steps will be to optimize and streamline the method. To that end, we have begun discussions to formalize the relationship between PBI and Dr. McCord/FIU into a mutually-beneficial collaboration agreement. We believe that by combining capabilities, knowledge, and our shared interest in an effective outcome, we can more efficiently move this method down the path to potential commercialization."

Mr. Schumacher continued: "Future commercialization of this novel, PCT-based method could potentially provide significant new business channels for PBI in important forensic applications, such as touch DNA and rape kit testing.  We believe the forensics market consists of hundreds of labs in the US, performing thousands of tests on a routine basis. Thus, in addition to instrument sales, we also see the potential for single-use consumables and other reagents that are proprietary to our PCT platform."

About Florida International University

Florida International University ("FIU") is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu.   

About the International Forensic Research Institute

The International Forensic Research Institute ("IFRI") serves local and national law enforcement efforts in the application of scientific principles to the administration of justice. The mission of this self-supporting institute is to conduct original research in forensic science, transfer technologies from other scientific disciplines for use in forensic applications, provide scientific expertise to the law enforcement and legal community and to provide needed continuing education and advanced training to practicing scientists. IFRI provides undergraduate, master, and doctoral level programs in forensic science.

About Pressure BioSciences, Inc.

Pressure BioSciences, Inc. ("PBI") (OTCQB: PBIO) develops, markets, and sells proprietary laboratory instrumentation and associated consumables to the estimated $6 billion life sciences sample preparation market. Our products are based on the unique properties of both constant (i.e., static) and alternating (i.e., pressure cycling technology, or PCT) hydrostatic pressure. PCT is a patented enabling technology platform that uses alternating cycles of hydrostatic pressure between ambient and ultra-high levels to safely and reproducibly control bio-molecular interactions. To date, we have installed over 250 PCT systems in approximately 160 sites worldwide. There are over 100 publications citing the advantages of the PCT platform over competitive methods, many from key opinion leaders. Our primary application development and sales efforts are in the biomarker discovery and forensics areas. Customers also use our products in other areas, such as drug discovery & design, bio-therapeutics characterization, soil & plant biology, vaccine development, histology, and forensic applications.      

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding PBI's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, or predictions of the future are "forward-looking'' statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the Company's current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and other reports filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the information included in this release, except as otherwise required by law.

For more information about PBI and this press release, please click on the following website link:  http://www.pressurebiosciences.com

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Investor Contacts:

Richard T. Schumacher, President and CEO, PBI (508) 230-1828 (T) 
Ayleen Barbel Fattal, PR & Marketing Coordinator, FIU (305) 348-4492 (T)

SOURCE Pressure BioSciences, Inc.

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