REHOVOT, Israel and JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rosetta Genomics Ltd. , a leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics, announced today it will present multiple posters at the upcoming annual AACR conference in San Diego. The posters will include data on Rosetta Genomics’ unique microRNA-based technologies and how they may be applied to develop objective and standardized diagnostic tests and therapeutics for cancer. The event will take place on April 12-16 at the San Diego Convention Center, California.
Presented posters:
1. “A microRNA-based diagnostic assay for non-small cell lung cancer"; Sunday April 13, exhibit hall B-F, poster section 7, poster board 6, abstract #946.
Rosetta Genomics has shown that a single microRNA can differentiate squamous from non squamous NSCLC with high sensitivity and specificity. The ability of physicians to accurately differentiate squamous from non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important treatment guide. Bevacizumab(1), an angiogenesis inhibitor and an important new modality of therapy for non-squamous NSCLC, includes a black-box warning about substantially higher rates of severe or fatal hemorrhage among patients with squamous NSCLC histology compared with non-squamous NSCLC.
2. “Identification of tumor origin using microRNA signature"; Wednesday April 16, exhibit hall B-F, poster section 2, poster board 1, abstract #5039. Each year approximately 70,000 patients in the United States are diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Accurately identifying the origin of a metastasis can be critical in guiding treatment decisions. Rosetta Genomics scientists have designed a classifier which assigns a primary site to a cancer sample based on the microRNA expression in the sample. The overall sensitivity of this classifier is approximately 85%, with two-thirds of the samples being classified with high-confidence, reaching accuracy exceeding 90% and specificity of 99%.
3. “Antisense oligonucleotides against microRNA as a novel therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma"; Sunday April 13, exhibit hall B-F, poster section 32, poster board 12, abstract # 1505.
MicroRNAs’ regulatory role makes them attractive potential targets for therapeutics, through either their activation or suppression. Rosetta Genomics Scientists, in collaboration with scientists from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., aim to identify microRNAs that are deregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and inhibit their activity through the use of antisense oligos (ASO). ASOs that target microRNAs which prove to be involved in the carcinogenic process can be used as potential novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCC.
4. “MicroRNA profiles in body fluids as a novel class of biomarkers”, Wednesday April 16, exhibit hall B-F, poster section 3, poster board 22, abstract #5167.
Rosetta Genomics has developed an integrative robust platform for extracting and profiling of microRNAs from body fluids including from the cell-free fraction of these fluids. The protocol was successfully applied to all body fluids and cell-free fluids examined, including serum, urine, saliva, amniotic fluid and pleural fluid.
About MicroRNA
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 field of microRNA. 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 on the application of these technologies in the development of a full range of microRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools, focusing primarily on cancer and various women’s health indications. The company expects that the first microRNA diagnostic tests applying its technology will be launched by licensed clinical laboratories in the United States in 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, the potential of microRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the expected timing of submission for approval and launch of diagnostic tests using our microRNA technology 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 microRNA technology and to work on the application of this technology in the development of 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.
CONTACT: Contact: Media, Rachel Spielman, T: +1-212-583-2714, E:
media@rosettagenomics.com; Investors, Ron Kamienchick, T: +1-646-509-1893,
E: investors@rosettagenomics.com
