Biotechnology Firm Enters Cardiology Testing Field

A biotechnology firm that specializes in microRNA diagnostics will now include cardiology testing as well as oncology.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered, naturally occurring form of RNA interference (RNAi). These small RNAs act as protein regulators and have the potential to form the basis for a new class of diagnostics and therapeutics. MicroRNAs have been shown to have different expression levels in certain diseased versus normal tissues and these differences provide for a novel diagnostic strategy for many diseases.

Rosetta Genomics (Rehovot, Israel), a biotechnology firm that has been collaborating with New York University (NYU; New York, NY, USA) on the development of diagnostics based on microDNAs for lung cancer and mesothelioma, announced that it is expanding its collaboration with the university to include cardiology diagnostics. Andrew Fein, a biotechnology analyst with the investment bank Collins Stewart, noted that "collaboration with NYU not only lends validity to Rosetta's microRNA diagnostics program, but it also allows the company to have access to key leaders in the fields of melanoma and now cardiology. Rosetta, supplying its proprietary protocols and technologies, can now employ these protocols and technologies more effectively with the help of NYU.”

"It is now clear that microRNAs play a key role in controlling diverse aspects of cardiac development and response to disease,” noted Dr. David B. Meyer, director of pediatric and congenital cardiothoracic surgery at NYU School of Medicine. "Rosetta Genomics' extensive knowledge and proprietary technologies in the microRNA field, coupled with our experience in congenital heart defects, is an excellent starting point for this collaboration.”


Related Links:
Rosetta Genomics
NewYork University