Rosetta Genomics Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostic assays, has entered into a co-marketing agreement with Pennsylvania based life science company, Precision Therapeutics Inc., for its miRview mets2 assay for the accurate identification of the tumour of origin in Cancers of Unknown or Uncertain Primary (CUP).

Under the terms of the agreement, Rosetta Genomics granted Precision Therapeutics the co-exclusive right, along with Rosetta Genomics, to co-market the miRview mets2 assay in the US through July 30, 2014, with certain pre-specified performance milestones. Rosetta Genomics will continue to record all revenues for miRview mets2 and will remain responsible for sample collection, processing and billing. Precision Therapeutics, with one of the largest sales forces in oncology diagnostics and considerable experience in the personalized medicine sector, is expected to launch its miRview mets2 co-marketing effort in August 2012.

"Precision Therapeutics is a strong partner to help maximize the potential of miRview mets2 in a critically important market, where accurate identification of the primary cancer directly impacts treatment decisions. With approximately 200,000 CUP patients in the US, we believe this co-marketing agreement will significantly enhance our reach and access to the physicians who diagnose cancer and who treat these patients, including pathologists and oncologists," said Kenneth A Berlin, president and chief executive officer of Rosetta Genomics. “This co-marketing agreement, as well as the recent Medicare decision to reimburse the miRview mets2 assay, significantly strengthens our prospects for widespread market adoption and revenue growth."

"We are especially pleased to partner with Rosetta Genomics to enhance the commercial distribution of the miRview mets2 assay, as it is a best-in-class CUP assay that utilizes cutting-edge microRNA expression as a platform, which we believe provides greater accuracy in identifying these difficult to diagnose tumours of unknown or uncertain origin. The data reported from external validation studies show a high level of concordance between the miRview mets2 assay and expert diagnoses in true CUP patients demonstrating the clinical benefit of looking at microRNA," stated Sean McDonald, president and chief executive officer of Precision Therapeutics.

"This collaboration with Rosetta Genomics underscores our commitment to offering high quality and high utility solutions to physicians along the entire continuum of care with the goal to improve outcomes for patients.  Together with Rosetta Genomics' dedicated oncology team, we will reach out to an even larger group of healthcare providers in order to benefit patients who are diagnosed with CUP," added McDonald.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated two to five per cent of all cancer patients have metastatic (secondary) tumours for which routine testing cannot locate the primary site. This is called cancer of unknown primary origin (CUP). Patients may be diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary origin if the primary tumour is too small to be identified with routine imaging tests, it regresses (disappears) before a secondary tumour arises, or the secondary tumour has several possible primary sites.

Cancer of unknown primary origin can appear anywhere in the body, but is most commonly found in the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, or skin.

miRview are a series of microRNA-based diagnostic products offered by Rosetta Genomics. miRview mets² accurately identifies the primary tumour type in primary and metastatic cancer including Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). miRview meso diagnoses mesothelioma, a cancer connected to asbestos exposure.  miRview lung accurately identifies the four main subtypes of lung cancer using small amounts of tumour cells. miRview kidney accurately classifies the four most common kidney tumours: Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), Papillary RCC, Chromophobe RCC and Oncocytoma. miRview tests are designed to provide objective diagnostic data; it is the treating physician's responsibility to diagnose and administer the appropriate treatment. In the US alone, Rosetta Genomics estimates that 200,000 patients a year may benefit from the miRview mets² test, 60,000 from miRview meso, 54,000 from miRview kidney and 226,000 patients from miRview lung. The Company's assays are offered directly by Rosetta Genomics in the US, and through distributors around the world.

Precision Therapeutics is dedicated to improving the outcomes of cancer patients by providing personalized medicine solutions that aim to increase quality of life and cancer survival rates.