SOUTH EASTON, Mass., April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO) (“PBI” or the “Company”) today announced that scientists from Florida International University (“FIU”) reported further advancements in their goal to develop an improved method for rape kit testing based on PBI’s patented pressure cycling technology (PCT) platform. The data were presented at the recent annual scientific meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (“AAFS”).
Ms. Deepthi Nori, a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Bruce McCord (Associate Director of FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute and principal investigator of the study), presented encouraging results from their studies of the application of PCT to improve rape kit testing. Their method is based on the unique ability of PCT to break open and release DNA from one type of cell contained in the rape kit swab (e.g., sperm cell from the perpetrator) while leaving a second type of cell in the swab intact (e.g., epithelial cell from the victim). The resulting unique DNA profile of the sperm can then be compared to the millions of DNA profiles contained in various DNA databases around the world in an attempt to determine the identity of the perpetrator.
In a separate presentation, Dr. Pero Dimsoski, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at FIU, reported on a novel cell capture method that, when used in combination with PCT, could potentially allow a greater number of the sperm cells in the rape kit sample to be available for testing, and fewer epithelial cells from the victim, resulting in an even better DNA profile of the perpetrator. It is believed that a better profile of the perpetrator’s DNA should lead to more rapid identifications, which should lead to an increase in arrests and successful prosecutions of perpetrators.
“We are very pleased with the continued progress being made by Dr. Bruce McCord and his team in the development of an improved method for rape kit testing based on our patented PCT platform,” said Dr. Nate Lawrence, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “The backlog of untested rape kits is a national travesty. It is imperative that improved methods be developed as soon as possible to help ensure that testing of rape kit samples be completed promptly. To that end, we remain committed to our support of Dr. McCord and his team.”
Dr. Lawrence continued: “We have begun discussions with additional forensic scientists with rape kit testing expertise, in order to expand the number of collaborations we have in this area. We expect these new collaborations to augment and extend the work of Dr. McCord and his team, which can potentially result in accelerating the development and launch of our PCT-based Rape Kit Processing System.”
About Untested Rape Kits
There is an estimated backlog of up to 400,000 untested rape kits throughout the United States. Numerous articles have been published describing the thousands of untested rape kits that have been found on dusty shelves in police storage warehouses and forensic labs nationwide. The added tragedy to these findings is that, in some cases, more rapid and otherwise improved test methods might have led to arrests of perpetrators sooner and, subsequently, might have prevented additional rapes and other violent crimes from occurring. For example, when the city of Detroit tested the first 600 of their backlog of 11,000 untested rape kits, they reported that the analysis of a rape kit sample collected in 2002 and not tested until 2009 revealed DNA that belonged to a criminal who was in prison for the murder of three women. Unfortunately, the murders were committed during the seven years that the kit remained untested, sitting in a warehouse.
About Pressure BioSciences, Inc.
Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (“PBI”) (OTCQB: PBIO) is focused on the development, marketing, and sale of proprietary laboratory instrumentation and associated consumables based on Pressure Cycling Technology (“PCT”). PCT is a patented, enabling technology platform with multiple applications in the estimated $6 billion life sciences sample preparation market. PCT uses cycles of hydrostatic pressure between ambient and ultra-high levels to control bio-molecular interactions. PBI currently focuses its efforts on the development and sale of PCT-enhanced sample preparation systems (instruments and consumables) for mass spectrometry, biomarker discovery, bio-therapeutics characterization, vaccine development, soil and plant biology, forensics, histology, and counter-bioterror applications.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding the Company’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. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the test results reported by Ms. Nori, Dr. Dimsoski, and Dr. McCord on an improved method for rape kit testing using PCT; the unique ability of PCT to break one type of cell while leaving a second type of cell intact; the ability of a novel cell capture method, when used in combination with PCT, to increase the number of sperm cells in rape kit samples available for testing, resulting in a better DNA profile; that a better DNA profile might lead to more rapid identifications, increased arrests, and more successful prosecutions; the backlog of untested rape kits and that the backlog is a national travesty; that improved methods of rape kit testing might lead to reduced testing time; that new collaborations will augment and extend the work of Dr. McCord and his team, which could potentially accelerate the development and launch of the PCT-based Rape Kit Processing System; that improved rape kit testing methods might lead to the arrests of perpetrators sooner, which would prevent their involvement in rape and other violent crimes; and the size of the life sciences sample preparation market. 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: possible difficulties or delays in the implementation of the Company’s strategies that may adversely affect the Company’s continued commercialization of its PCT-based product line; changes in customer’s needs and technological innovations; the Company’s and its strategic partners/distributors sales forces may not be successful in selling the Company’s PCT product line because scientists may not perceive the advantages of PCT over other sample preparation methods; that other researchers may not be able to replicate the data reported or see the advantages of using the Company’s PCT platform in the studies mentioned; and if actual operating costs are higher than anticipated, or revenues from product sales are less than anticipated, the Company may need additional capital beyond May 2013. Further, given the uncertainty in the capital markets and the current status of the Company’s product development and commercialization activities, there can be no assurance that the Company will secure the additional capital necessary to fund its operations beyond May 2013 on acceptable terms, if at all. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, 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 link: http://www.pressurebiosciences.com
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Investor Contacts: | |
Richard T. Schumacher, President & CEO, PBI | (508) 230-1828 (T) |
Conrad Mir, CFO, PBI | (508) 230-1828 (T) |
Timothy J. Connor, Managing Director, Benchmark Advisory | (858) 568-7059 (T) |
SOURCE Pressure BioSciences, Inc.
