REHOVOT, Israel and NORTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, February 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. (NASDQ: ROSG) announced today the establishment of its Medical Advisory Board. Rosetta Genomics has assembled world-leading clinicians in the fields of oncology and women’s health, to advise the company on its microRNA-based program to develop laboratory tests to best address the issues facing oncologists and pathologists today. Some laboratory tests comprising Rosetta Genomics technology are expected to be launched in 2008.
“There is great unmet medical need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic tools within the medical community,” noted Prof. Moshe Hod, Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women at Rabin Medical Center and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board. “Rosetta Genomics has been a pioneering force in the microRNA field, and its diagnostic and therapeutic development programs may offer clinicians next-generation tools to assist patients. It is the Medical Advisory Board’s responsibility to advise the company to help focus its efforts on the most significant medical needs, where microRNAs can have the most impact.”
“The diagnostics field has been lagging behind therapeutics in development, despite the tremendous importance of having objective and accurate diagnostic tools to identify patients’ conditions and manage their therapy,” noted Harvey I. Pass, M.D. Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgery, Director of Surgical Research, and Division Chief for Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology for the NYU School of Medicine and Vice Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board. “MicroRNAs have the potential to be highly specific and sensitive biomarkers, offering clinicians the opportunity to utilize these objective diagnostic tools to address the unmet need for standardization in cancer diagnostics and advance molecular diagnostics for a wide range of diseases.”
“We are very pleased to be joined by these esteemed clinicians,” said Amir Avniel, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics.” I am sure their tremendous experience in the fields of cancer and women’s health will have an important contribution to the future of our microRNA-based development program.”
The Medical Advisory Board members are:
Prof. Moshe Hod - Chairman
Professor Moshe Hod is recognized as an international authority on women’s health and diabetes. He is currently Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women at the Rabin Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University in Israel.
Prof. Harvey I. Pass - Vice Chairman
Harvey I. Pass, MD is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgery, Director of Surgical Research, and Division Chief for Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology for the NYU School of Medicine. Prof. Pass is internationally recognized as an expert in the multidisciplinary management of lung cancer, mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, and the management of pulmonary metastases. He is known for his development of novel clinical trials for the treatment of thoracic malignancies as well as building a strong translational component to his programs with benchwork investigations.
Prof. David Sidransky, M.D
Dr. Sidransky is a renowned oncologist and research scientist named and profiled by TIME magazine in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. He is Professor of Oncology, Otolaryngology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at John Hopkins University and Hospital. Dr. Sidransky has written over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and has contributed more than 40 cancer reviews and chapters.
Dr. Isaac Yaniv
Dr. Yaniv is the chairman of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Division at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel. Dr. Yaniv has published more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conducts clinical and molecular research in the field of pediatric malignancies.
Prof. Jack Baniel
Prof. Baniel, is an internationally renowned authority on testicular and bladder cancer. Currently, he is Professor of Urology and Acting Chief of the Urological Section at Rabin Medical Center and Deputy-Head of the Davidoff Comprehensive Cancer Center in Israel.
Prof. Raphael Catane
Raphael Catane M.D. is Professor and Chairman of the Division of Oncology at The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. Previously, Dr. Catane has been Director of Clinical Cancer Research at Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute.
Dr. Maya Gottfried
Maya Gottfried has earned distinction for her extensive clinical and academic experience. A specialist in lung cancer, medical oncology and radiotherapy, she is currently Head of the Lung Oncology Unit at the Meir Medical Center in Kfar-Saba, Israel.
A full description and bios of Rosetta Genomics’ Medical Advisory Board members can be found on our website at: http://www.rosettagenomics.com
About microRNAs
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered, naturally occurring small RNAs that act as master regulators and have the potential to form the basis for a new class of diagnostics and therapeutics. Since many diseases are caused by the abnormal activity of proteins, the ability to selectively regulate protein activity through microRNAs could provide the means to treat a wide range of human diseases. In addition, microRNAs have been shown to have different expression in various pathological conditions. As a result, these differences may provide for a novel diagnostic strategy for many diseases.
About Rosetta Genomics
Rosetta Genomics is a leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Founded in 2000, the company’s integrative research platform combining bioinformatics and state-of-the-art laboratory processes has led to the discovery of hundreds of biologically validated novel human microRNAs. Building on its strong IP position and proprietary platform technologies, Rosetta Genomics is working to develop a full range of microRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools, focusing primarily on cancer and various women’s health indications. The company expects the first microRNA diagnostic tests based on its technology to be launched during 2008.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
Various statements in this release concerning Rosetta’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, statements relating to the role of microRNAs in human physiology and disease, and the potential of microRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of disease constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks related to: Rosetta’s approach to discover and develop novel diagnostics and therapeutic tools, which is unproven and may never lead to marketable products or services; Rosetta’s ability to fund and the results of further pre-clinical and clinical trials; Rosetta’s ability to obtain, maintain and protect the intellectual property utilized by Rosetta’s products; Rosetta’s ability to enforce its patents against infringers and to defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; Rosetta’s ability to obtain additional funding to support its business activities; Rosetta’s dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales, and distribution of products; Rosetta’s ability to successfully develop its candidate tools, products and services, all of which are in early stages of development; Rosetta’s ability to obtain regulatory clearances or approvals that may be required for its products and services; the ability to obtain coverage and adequate payment from health insurers for the products and services comprising Rosetta’s technology; competition from others using technology similar to Rosetta’s and others developing products for similar uses; Rosetta’s dependence on collaborators; and Rosetta’s short operating history; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Rosetta’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Rosetta’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Rosetta does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.
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