NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Rosetta Genomics has struck an agreement to use some of Rockefeller University’s viral and human microRNAs for therapeutic uses, the company said Wednesday.
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Rosetta Genomics President and CEO Amir Avniel said the microRNAs offer the company access to more potential drug targets, and is in line with the its strategy to supplement its own research through licensing agreements with key academic centers.Â
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The company said it now has the rights to more than 500 microRNA targets.
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Financial terms of the agreement were not released.
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Rosetta Genomics did not specify if this license is an extension of an agreement it signed with Rockefeller a year ago for 180 microRNAs, or if it covers different IP.
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That agreement granted Rosetta Genomics rights to use the microRNAs for multiple R&D programs, and called for the company to pay Rockefeller University an initiation fee, maintenance fees, and royalties.
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Rosetta Genomics is conducting a liver cancer program through a collaboration with Isis Pharmaceuticals that aims to identify microRNA targets that may be used as therapeutics for the cancer. Â
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The company’s liver cancer program is funded partly by the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.