Rosetta Genomics, a developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, entered into a collaborative research and license agreement with Yeda Research and Development, the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

The agreement involves collaboration with the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine to develop methods for the preparation of next-generation sequencing libraries for small RNAs. The collaboration aims to make this type of sequencing more cost effective as well as to minimize sequence-specific biases. Additional goals include developing computational methods required for data analysis. The potential developed methods could allow more accurate quantification of microRNAs in various biological samples and pathological conditions, according to the company.

“The major advantages of next-generation sequencing for microRNA profiling are detection of both novel and known microRNAs and precise identification of microRNA sequences,” said Kenneth A. Berlin, president and CEO at Rosetta Genomics. “These advances will allow us to incorporate sequencing in more of our projects, thereby enhancing our capabilities to more cost-effectively and accurately develop powerful, new diagnostic products with significant clinical utility.”

In April, Rosetta Genomics allied with rare disease-focused drug developer Marina Biotech to identify and develop microRNA-based products designed to diagnose and treat neuromuscular diseases and dystrophies. The company also entered an agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University last year for the development of a nano-carrier system with miR mimetic technology. Scientists from both organizations say this system can enhance the stability, intracellular trafficking, and efficacy of microRNA.

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