SOUTH EASTON, Mass., Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO) ("PBI" and the "Company") today announced it has been awarded a $1,020,969 SBIR Phase II grant (2R44HG007136) from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health ("NIH").  Entitled "High Pressure Sample Preparation Instrumentation for DNA Sequencing", this grant will help fund the development of an automated, high-throughput, high pressure system (instrument and consumables), to enable significantly better control of DNA fragmentation - a critical step in the preparation of samples for Next Generation Sequencing platforms.  This system will be based on significant technological advancements over the classic hydrodynamic DNA shearing approach that has been successfully and widely used in the field of DNA sequencing for many years.

Next Generation Sequencing ("NGS") describes a number of modern, high-throughput technologies that allow scientists to sequence ("determine the exact order of") the nucleotide building blocks of DNA and RNA, far faster and with greater precision than ever before.  NGS is one of the fastest growing segments in the life sciences arena: it has not only revolutionized the study of genomics and molecular biology, but it offers the promise of enabling significant discoveries and improvements in human healthcare, including the burgeoning field of personalized medicine (now referred to as "Precision Medicine"). According to the company ResearchandMarkets, the global NGS market could reach $8.7B by 2020.    

Dr. Nate Lawrence, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for PBI, said: "Our patented pressure cycling technology ("PCT") and our other high pressure-based platforms offer many of the same important benefits to researchers in the genomics field as they do to those in the field of proteomics. On July 22, 2014, we announced a plan to develop a front-end sample preparation system for Parabase Genomics' targeted NGS testing platform.  Over the past year, we have been in early discussions with other NGS companies over the possibility of using our unique, high pressure platforms in their sample preparation work flow.  We believe the work supported by this grant could accelerate the development of the Parabase Genomics' platform, enable more extensive and fruitful discussions with other NGS companies, and result in significantly more revenue through an expanded line of high pressure-based instruments and consumables for the genomics field."

Mr. Richard T. Schumacher, President and CEO of PBI, stated: "This grant award is very important and timely for PBI.  It provides over $1 million in non-dilutive funding, payable over two years, to support the development of a high pressure - based system for the preparation of samples for DNA analysis by NGS methods. Entry into the NGS market has always been part of our growth plan, as we believe this market is highly complementary to our existing presence and core competency in the protein biomarker discovery field. With this award, we can now accelerate our plans to enter what we believe to be a very large, rapidly growing, and potentially fruitful marketplace, with minimal cost to our Company."

Mr. Schumacher continued: "We also believe strongly that this new SBIR Phase II grant award, when combined with other grants we have been awarded over the past few years, provides compelling third-party confirmation of the power of our patented PCT and our other high pressure platforms, and of our planned growth in both the genomic and proteomic markets."

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, 2013, 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.

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http://www.pressurebiosciences.com

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SOURCE Pressure BioSciences, Inc.