The allowed patent application, which is expected to be issued as a US patent in the next few months, extends the company’s patent protection for its CertainT platform into cellulosic fibres and materials. The company has related international patent applications pending in India, the European Union, China and Hong Kong.

The allowed claims cover methods of tagging cellulosic fibres or materials with a nucleic acid (DNA) tag during production and later authenticating the nucleic acid-tagged cellulosic fibres and/or materials via PCR-based detection techniques.

Cellulosic fibres and materials are man-made and are derived from plant-based resources (cellulose). Notable cellulosic fibres and materials include rayon. The demand for cellulosic fibres and materials is rapidly expanding, with a market size estimated to surpass US$ 39 billion by 2024, growing at an annual rate of 9%.

“We are in commercial stage discussions with some of the world’s largest cellulosic fibre and materials manufacturers for the implementation of our proven CertainT platform,” said Dr James Hayward, President and Chief Executive of Applied DNA. “The newly allowed patent is a significant milestone for the company as it enhances our intellectual property portfolio and provides potential exclusivity for our CertainT platform in the ever-growing cellulosic fibre and materials market.”

“Since many man-made cellulosic materials such as rayon (with component fibres known as lyocell, viscose and modal) are derived from trees, traceability to assure brand claims for responsible sourcing and sustainable claims is important. The CertainT solution assists fibre producers in ensuring the authenticity and traceability of their branded fibres. We have successfully demonstrated the robust performance of the CertainT molecular tag in commercial production environments from fibre to fabric with top-tier rayon manufacturers in both home goods and apparel.”

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