In the first phase, the collaboration will focus on the development of micro RNA-based tests for the field of cancer and women's health
Rosetta Genomics, a biotechnology company specializing in the development of diagnostic and treatment products based on micro RNA (or mRNA for short), and the Rabin-Bilinson Medical Center of the General Health Services Group, announced their collaboration to develop micro RNA-based tests for cancer and women's health. This collaboration will leverage the potential of micro RNA to be used as sensitive and accurate biomarkers in order to develop a variety of diagnostic and prognostic tools. This is Rosetta Genomics' first collaboration in the field of women's health.
"The unique properties of microRNAs as sensitive biomarkers, combined with our powerful development engines, allow us to expand our development programs beyond the cancer field," noted Amir Avniel, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. "There is a real medical need for better diagnostic tools in the field of women's health. The researchers at the Rabin Medical Center are among the world leaders in their field and I believe that with their help we can bring better diagnostic tools to patients around the world."
"As a research and clinical center at the forefront of science, we recognize the importance of turning revolutionary technology into innovative products for the benefit of patients," said Dr. Eran Halpern, CEO of Rabin-Bilinson Medical Center. "Micro RNAs are proving to be very effective biomarkers for a wide variety of diseases and I believe that by leveraging the unique technologies developed by Rosetta Genomics in the field, this collaboration will be fruitful."
"This collaboration is an important step in improving women's health," said Professor Moshe Hood, director of the Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the Women's Hospital at Rabin Medical Center, and chairman of the Rosetta Genomics Medical Advisory Committee. "There is a real unmet need for better diagnostic tools for a wide range of indications, and the research indicates that micro RNA has the potential to be used as effective biomarkers not only in the field of cancer."
About micro RNA
MicroRNAs are recently discovered small pieces of RNA that regulate the activity processes of proteins in the body, and have the potential to form the basis of a new set of diagnostic tools and drugs. Since many diseases are caused by protein activity that is not properly regulated, the possibility of selectively regulating protein activity using microRNA may be a means of treatment for a wide variety of diseases. In addition, it was found that microRNAs are expressed differently in different pathological conditions, and based on these differences, a new and advanced diagnostic strategy can be developed for many diseases.
About Rosetta Genomics
Rosetta Genomics Company, founded in 2000, is a world leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostic and treatment tools. The company's integrative research infrastructure, which combines bioinformatics and advanced laboratory processes in their field, has so far led to the discovery of hundreds of biologically proven human microRNA fragments. Based on rich intellectual property and a technological infrastructure, Rosetta Genomics is working on developing a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic tools based on microRNA, focusing on cancer and women's medicine. The company expects to launch the first diagnostic tools based on its technology during 2008 through (CLIA) laboratories in the USA.
