NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) - Rosetta Genomics today reported that its second-quarter net loss rose around 61 percent as the firm received approval from the State of New York to offer its first miRNA-based diagnostic test for differentiating squamous from non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.
The Rehovot, Israel-based company had no revenues for the three-month period ended June 30. It expects to launch the first test later this year through Columbia University Medical Center’s High Complexity Molecular Pathology Laboratory.
Rosetta’s net loss for the second quarter was $3.7 million, or $.31 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.3 million, or $.19 per share, for the second quarter of 2007.
The firm’s R&D costs increased 23 percent to $2.2 million from $1.7 million year over year, and its marketing and business development expenses inched up to $434,000 from $412,000. Its general and administrative costs rose 51 percent to $896,000 from $595,000 for the second quarter of 2007.
Rosetta finished the quarter with $12.1 million in cash and cash equivalents.
Rosetta President and CEO Amir Avniel noted that the firm expects to submit two additional tests — one for differentiating mesothelioma from adenocarcinomas in the lung and one for identifying the primary origin of a metastasis — for regulatory approval in “the coming months.” He also said that the firm would soon begin development of tests at its newly acquired CLIA lab.
Rosetta said last month that it would acquire Parkway Clinical Laboratories, a privately held CLIA-certified lab, for $2.9 million and an additional $300,000 if certain milestones are met.