Rosetta Genomics and Marina Biotech Initiate First Clinical Project Under Strategic Alliance

PRINCETON, NJ and REHOVOT, ISRAEL and BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwired - Nov 18, 2014) - Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics and therapeutics, and Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: MRNA), a leading nucleic acid-based drug discovery and development company focused on rare diseases, jointly announced the initiation of the first project under the Strategic Alliance the companies announced on April 2, 2014. The first project will be a clinical study conducted by Rosetta Genomics to identify novel microRNA candidates for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

In this study, Rosetta will evaluate archived muscle biopsy samples from 10-30 DMD patients and 10-30 non-DMD controls. The samples will be processed and assessed by Rosetta's microarray platform. Samples will also be profiled using deep sequencing to identify novel microRNAs and isomiRs. 

"We are excited to initiate our strategic agreement with Marina Biotech on this important project in DMD, as it is a debilitating disease of significant unmet need," stated Kenneth A. Berlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rosetta Genomics. "We look forward to leveraging our microRNA biomarker platform for the discovery of specific microRNA signatures in DMD to identify therapeutic candidates for Marina Biotech to develop as potential new treatment options for these young boys suffering with DMD."

"We want to ensure we are capitalizing on our broad nucleic acid drug discovery platform by identifying all possible therapeutic approaches to the treatment of DMD," stated J. Michael French, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Biotech. "With the breadth of our chemistry and delivery capability, we can certainly pursue a specific exon-skipping approach as is currently in clinical development. However, we can also pursue novel compounds directed at inhibiting or replacing those microRNA targets that might have a much broader impact in treating the major symptoms of this disease. The experience and capability of Rosetta Genomics is unparalleled and we look forward to working with them in this important clinical study."