UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 30, 2025

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

001-36745

(Commission File Number)

59-2262718

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

50 Health Sciences Drive

Stony Brook, New York 11790

(Address of principal executive offices; zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

631-240-8800

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value		APDN		The Nasdaq Stock Market

Item 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

On September 30, 2025, the Board of Directors of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) authorized, and its officers implemented, a restructuring plan pursuant to which the Company will reduce overall operating expenses to focus resources on its previously announced BNB-focused treasury strategy. The restructuring plan includes a reduction of the Company’s current workforce by sixteen employees, or approximately 60%. The Company estimates that it will incur aggregate pre-tax charges of approximately $1.4 million in connection with the reduction-in-force, primarily consisting of severance payments, employee benefits, and related costs. The Company expects that the reduction-in-force will be substantially completed by the end of October 2025 and that the associated charges will be recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The Company estimates that the restructuring will result in annualized cost savings of approximately $2.9 million. The estimated charges that the Company expects to incur are subject to a number of assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from these estimates. The Company may also incur additional costs not currently contemplated due to events that may occur as a result of, or that are associated with, the restructuring plan.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 6, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing that it will change its ticker symbol on the Nasdaq Capital Market from "APDN" to "BNBX" effective at the opening of trading on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the Company’s belief that restructuring will reduce overall operating expenses, the future success of its Linea DNA and Linea IVT platforms and its treasury strategy and future reductions in operating expenses. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated October 6, 2025.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 6, 2025	APPLIED DNA SCIENCES, INC.

	By:	/s/ Beth Jantzen
	Name:	Beth Jantzen
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

APPLIED DNA SCIENCES INC 8-K