Rosetta Genomics, a cancer research firm based in Philadelphia, has reached an agreement with Super Religare Laboratories, a biotech firm headquartered in India, to distribute Rosetta's new cancer testing methods throughout the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. The deal includes making the new tests available in countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The new tests, called "miRview" tests, use genetic templates that carry certain molecular sequences based on their "microRNA". Many microRNA sequences have been linked to cancer and these new tests are among the first ones that use these sequences to detect diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The three tests include one under the trademarked name of "miRviewTM meso". This test uses microRNA markers to determine if a particular tumor is mesothelioma or another type of lung cancer. Mesothelioma often occurs in patients who have had long-term exposure to asbestos. Over time, as the patient inhales asbestos fibers, these fibers irritate the lining of the lungs and mutate the cells into malignant tumors. Since the symptoms of mesothelioma are often similar to those of other lung diseases, doctors frequently have a difficult time diagnosing it. With the miRviewTM meso test, doctors will be able to differentiate a diagnosis of mesothelioma with one of other forms of lung cancer.
According to Super Religare Laboratories Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sanjeev Chaudhry, the new tests and the partnership with Rosetta will reduce the time it takes to receive an accurate diagnosis down from five days to forty-eight hours. Not only would doctors receive the test results faster, said Chaudhry, but also the improved accuracy for diseases such as mesothelioma would help a great deal with early detection of the disease. The agreement allows for SRL to send samples to Rosetta's labs in blocks of a specially formulated type of paraffin. Rosetta then uses the miRviewTM meso test to determine if the sample has the genetic markers that signify the presence of mesothelioma.
Dr. Chaudhry also stated that the new idea that microRNA can be used to distinguish cancer cases is quickly becoming recognized in the cancer research community over the last ten years. With regard to these discoveries, Dr. Chaudhry's firm has created an important relationship with Rosetta Genomics in order to provide the first diagnostic tests using microRNA for the welfare of patients in this part of the world.
In addition to the miRviewTM meso test, Dr Chaudhry also announced that two other tests would be made available through the distribution agreement with Rosetta. One of these tests, called "miRviewTM squamous", helps doctors tell the difference between squamous and non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Until recently, oncologists did not have accurate, standardized tests that allowed them to differentiate between the two forms of the disease. The other test, called "miRviewTM mets", allows doctors to determine the original site of a cancer that has metastasized. Since the best way to tread a metastasized cancer is at its primary source, the miRviewTM mets test will help doctors determine the proper treatment method depending on that source.
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