Rosetta Genomics Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based and other molecular diagnostic testing services, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance for US Patent Application No. 14/505,548, entitled Compositions and methods for treatment of ovarian cancer, which covers a method of treatment for ovarian cancer through the administration of an inhibitor of miR-27a.

In addition, the Israel Patent Office has allowed Application No. 200247, entitled Compositions and Methods for Modulating Cell Proliferation and Cell Death, which claims cover the use of miR-34a or its variants for treating p53-negative cancers. This application covers a core element of Rosetta Genomics microRNA technology in the development of cancer therapeutics associated with p53-negative cancers, including lymphoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer, certain types of lung cancer, and others. The patent is jointly owned with Yeda R&D Co. Ltd., the technology transfer company of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. This technology is licensed to Mirna Therapeutics.

The company also received a notice of allowance for Israel Patent Application No. 212978, entitled MicroRNAs and Uses thereof, which covers human miR-29c, a sequence at least 90% identical to it, and its complement; including a probe and a vector comprising the miR or its complement. This application corresponds to U.S. Patent No. 8,461,315.

These patent grants further strengthen our international intellectual property position and complement already granted patents. Our growing patent estate continues to be a valuable asset for Rosetta as it provides protection for our core product portfolio, supports our research  and development efforts and offers multiple opportunities to monetize patents outside our core diagnostics platforms, stated Kenneth A. Berlin, president and chief executive officer.

We believe the new US patent may be of great value in the development of new treatment options for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. Our goal is to monetize this US patent and the related technology through a potential partnership, added Berlin.