Rosetta Genomics Announces Initiation of In Vivo Studies Following Successful Completion of First Milestone in MicroRNA-based Therapeutic Program for Li...( Following the Screening and the Tes...)

Following the Screening and the Testing of Hundreds of MicroRNAs, Eight MicroRNAs Were Identified that Effectively Reduce Liver Cancer Cell Growth

REHOVOT, Israel and NORTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, November 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. (NASDQ: ROSG) announced today the initiation of in vivo studies in its microRNA-based liver cancer therapeutic program conducted in collaboration with Isis Pharmaceuticals(1) (NASDAQ: ISIS). The project, combining Isis's extensive know how and IP in antisense chemistry and Rosetta Genomics' know how and proprietary microRNA platform technologies, is the companies' leading attempt at harnessing microRNAs' role as master switches of the human body to develop a treatment for cancer.

Out of hundreds of potential microRNAs screened and tested, eight have been identified to lead to a decrease in liver cancer cell growth when inhibited. These microRNAs will be further tested during the in vivo studies.

Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in men and the tenth most common in women, according to the National Cancer Institute. Approximately 20,000 people will die this year of liver cancer in the US alone.

"Rosetta and Isis decided two years ago to focus on developing a microRNA-based drug for this deadly cancer," noted Amir Avniel, CEO and President of Rosetta Genomics. "We are proud to present these results, demonstrating that microRNAs play a key role in liver cancer, and that targeting them in vitro leads to a decrease in cancer cell growth. We look forward to starting the in vivo studies."

Data on this program was presented by the two companies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference; "The Rol
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