“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009”

“California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation,” said Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles). “This bill is about raising awareness to protect the health of our citizens. Serpentine contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Toxic materials have no place serving as emblems for the State.”

Asbestos causes cancers and respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer that claim 10,000 people every year in the United States and nearly 100,000 people worldwide. In 1965, serpentine was designated as the state rock of California in order to promote the then-lucrative asbestos mining industry. A practically indestructible lethal fiber, asbestos has been used for decades in numerous industries throughout California including building construction and naval shipyards, as well as in common household products ranging from crayons to blow dryers. Though asbestos is banned in 52 countries, it is not banned in the United States.

“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009,” said Linda Reinstein, CEO and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “A longtime fixture on the red carpet, Army’s death is unfortunately not unique and the death toll will continue until the United States Congress passes legislation banning asbestos. More than 7,000 Californians have died from asbestos-related diseases.”

On behalf of asbestos victims and their families, the John McNamara Foundation, and The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, ADAO applauds our political leaders as this legislation moves forward to repeal serpentine as the state rock.

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest independent organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

The Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award, named for the late Minnesota Congressman who died from meso in 2000, acknowledges the support and initiatives of a political leader. Senator Max Baucus, whose state of Montana is home of Libby, a town contaminated by asbestos with first hand knowledge of its tragic effects, has been a champion and an invaluable supporter in the quest to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease.

Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the lining of the lung, abdomen or heart caused by exposure to asbestos. Medical experts consider it one of the most aggressive of all cancers. For decades the need to develop effective treatments was mostly ignored. Thus, only one FDA approved mesothelioma treatment exists, extending average survival by three months.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the national non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma by funding research, providing education and support for patients, and leading advocacy efforts to increase federal funding for mesothelioma research. To date, the Foundation has funded $6.4 million through its peer-reviewed grant program. The Foundation unites doctors, researchers, patients and families, legal advocates, union representatives, and other affected and concerned individuals to share information and advance mesothelioma research. For more information, visit www.curemeso.org.

"Pretending that there are methods to handle asbestos safely is just like saying there is a safe way to fall from a 15th floor," said Dr. Fernand Turcotte, professor emeritus of preventive medicine and public health at the medical school of Université Laval.

"Suffering from hunger is far less painful than suffering from a dreadful occupational illness like mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure," said Dr. Tushar Kant Joshi, occupational and environmental health physician, Fellow at Collegium Ramazzini in Italy.

After a press conference at 11 a.m. in the Charles Lynch Room, participants will be joined by demonstrators in front of Centre Block at 12:15.

What:

Press conference and demonstration to demand Canada change its shameful course on asbestos

Who:

Pat Martin, NDP MP for Winnipeg Centre

Dr. Kapil Khatter, family physician in Ottawa, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Dr. Tushar Kant Joshi, world renowned occupational health expert

Mike Bradley, Mayor of Sarnia

Dr. Fernand Turcotte, professor emeritus of preventive medicine and public health at the medical school of Université Laval

Dr. Barry Castleman, chemical engineer, environmentalist and asbestos substitutes consultant to the World Health Organization and the World Bank

Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress

Sandra Kinart, Community Health Care worker and community activist whose husband Blayne has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma

When:

Press conference at 11 a.m., Charles Lynch Room (130 S, Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa)

Demonstration at 12:15 p.m. in front of Centre Block

About CUPE

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is Canada’s largest union.

With around 600 000 members across Canada, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.

A strong and democratic union, CUPE is committed to improving the quality of life for workers in Canada. Women and men working together to form local unions built CUPE. They did so to have a stronger voice – a collective voice – in their workplace and in society as a whole.

Together they have won the right to negotiate their wages and working conditions; to stop arbitrary action by employers; and to speak out without fear of reprisal.

CUPE members are service-providers, white-collar workers, technicians, labourers, skilled trades people and professionals. More than half of CUPE members are women. About one-third are part-time workers.

CUPE is a modern, dynamic and sophisticated union with more than 70 offices across the country.

Workers, united through CUPE, have the clout and expertise to deal with the growing complexities of our global economy.

Claudio Bordignon, MolMed’s chairman and CEO, comments: “We are really proud of this important milestone, as NGR-hTNF may represent a novel treatment option for malignant mesothelioma, a disease with very high unmet medical need. Based on the positive results of a multicentre Phase II trial, this Phase III trial is optimally designed to investigate the full therapeutic potential of NGR-hTNF in the treatment of mesothelioma.”

About Phase III trial NGR015

NGR015 is a pivotal randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicentre Phase III trial, expecting to enrol 400 adult patients affected by malignant pleural mesothelioma with disease progressing after a pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. The trial investigates the administration of NGR-hTNF plus best investigator’s choice (BIC) versus placebo plus BIC, where BIC includes either supportive care alone or combined with one chemotherapeutic agent (either doxorubicin, or gemcitabine, or vinorelbine). Randomisation ratio will be 1:1. Before randomisation, investigators decide for each patient if he/she is candidate to either supportive care alone or combined with chemotherapy; patients are then randomly assigned to either of the two treatment arms by specific stratification factors.

NGR-hTNF is given intravenously as 1-hour infusion at 0.8 µg/m2 once a week, until disease progression; placebo follows the same administration schedule in the control arm. BIC is delivered, where applicable and as appropriate, according to Institutional and literature guidelines, and chemotherapy is administered as per standard clinical practice. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, disease control rate, safety, and patient quality of life.

Results of Phase II trial of NGR-hTNF in mesothelioma

In a completed Phase II trial (NGR010), a single-arm, open-label, multicentre trial, NGR-hTNF was administered as monotherapy – either every three weeks or every week – in 57 chemo-pretreated patients. The results, presented in 2009 at ASCO and ECCO-ESMO, showed an overall disease control rate of 46% with a median duration of 4.7 months. The comparison of progression-free time between the weekly and the tri-weekly cohort showed a clear advantage of the treatment intensification approach (9.1 vs 4.4 months): accordingly, the weekly schedule was chosen in designing Phase III trial NGR015.

Also on the basis of Phase II results, in 2008 NGR-hTNF has been granted Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, in both the EU and the US.

About malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)

MPM is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by repeated exposition to asbestos fibers. With an incidence of approximately 1/100,000, MPM is still a relatively rare type of cancer, but has been progressing fast in the past 20 years as incidence rates have continuously increased. MPM has a long latency period of the disease, and symptoms are non-specific, so that in most cases diagnosis is difficult before the advanced stage of the disease is reached. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma using conventional therapies has not proven to be successful, leaving affected patients with a poor prognosis and limited survival time.

About NGR-hTNF

NGR-hTNF is a vascular targeting agent with unique mode of action, and a first-in-class compound in the class of peptide/cytokine complexes able to selectively target the tumour vasculature. It consists of a tumour homing peptide (NGR) that selectively binds tumour blood vessels, fused to the human cytokine TNF. NGR-hTNF is undergoing clinical development both as monotherapy and in combination therapy, in a total of six indications. In addition to mesothelioma, NGR-hTNF has been tested as monotherapy in Phase II trials in liver and colorectal cancer. Phase II trials in combination therapy include: with Xelox for colorectal cancer; with doxorubicin for small-cell lung cancer, and for ovarian cancer; with cisplatin-based regimens in a randomised trial for non-small cell lung cancer, versus chemotherapy alone. MolMed is also conducting a Phase I trial aimed at the exploration of safety and preliminary anticancer activity of NGR-hTNF at high doses. In addition to mesothelioma, NGR-hTNF has
been granted Orphan Drug designation – in both the EU and the US – also for the treatment of liver cancer.

About MolMed

MolMed S.p.A is a biotechnology company focused on research, development and clinical validation of novel antitumour therapies. In addition to NGR-hTNF, MolMed’s pipeline includes another anticancer therapeutic in clinical development, TK, a cell-based therapy enabling bone marrow transplant from partially compatible donors, in Phase III for high-risk acute leukaemias. MolMed is headquartered at the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park in Milan, Italy. The company’s shares (MLM) are listed at the Standard segment (class I) of the MTA managed by Borsa Italiana.

This press release is written in compliance with public disclosure obligations established by CONSOB (Italian securities & exchange commission) resolution no. 11971 of 14.5.1999 as subsequently amended.

For further information, please contact:

• Holger Neecke Director Business Development, Investor Relations MolMed S.p.A. e-mail: investor.relations@molmed.com
• Elena Lungagnani Communication Manager MolMed S.p.A. e-mail: media.relations@molmed.com

MolMed’s English language web site: http://www.molmed.com/eng/index.asp

The posters will include data on Rosetta Genomics’ unique microRNA-based technologies and how they may be applied to develop objective and standardized diagnostic tests for cancer.

“This cumulative body of clinical data underscores the important role microRNAs can play in diagnosing and treating a variety of cancers,” noted Kenneth A. Berlin, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. “We continue to build upon our scientific and clinical data to further validate the strength of our microRNA platform technologies, and demonstrate our ability to harness the power of microRNAs to advance the standard of care in diagnosing and treating cancer.”

Presented posters:

• “One microRNA Has Prognostic Potential For Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma” Tuesday, April 20 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A-C, Poster Section 7, Abstract #4053
• “Prognostic value of microRNAs expression in diffuse large B cell lymphoma” Tuesday, April 20 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A-C, Poster Section 7, Abstract #4054
• “microRNAs as prognostic indicators in gastric cancer” Tuesday, April 20 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A-C, Poster Section 3, Temporary Abstract #5296
• “microRNAs as a powerful diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis of kidney tumors” Tuesday, April 20 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A-C, Poster Section 3, Abstract #3019

About microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered, small RNAs that act as master regulators of protein synthesis, and have been shown to be highly effective biomarkers. MicroRNAs’ unique advantage as biomarkers lies in their high tissue specificity, and their exceptional stability in the most routine preservation methods for biopsies, including Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) block tissue and fine needle aspirate (FNA) cell blocks. It has been suggested that their small size (19-21 nucleotides) enables them to remain intact in FFPE blocks, as opposed to messenger RNA (mRNA), which tends to degrade rapidly. In addition, early preclinical data has shown that by controlling the levels of specific microRNAs, cancer cell growth may be reduced. To learn more about microRNAs, please visit www.rosettagenomics.com.

About miRview(TM) Products

miRview(TM) are a series of microRNA-based diagnostic tests developed by Rosetta Genomics. miRview(TM) mets accurately identifies the primary tumor site in metastatic cancer and Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) patients. miRview(TM) squamous accurately identifies the squamous subtype of NSCLC, which carries an increased risk of severe or fatal internal bleeding and poor response to treatment for certain targeted therapies. miRview(TM) meso diagnoses mesothelioma, a cancer connected to asbestos exposure, from other carcinomas in the lung and pleura. This test can be used to rule out mesothelioma in patients diagnosed with a tumor in the lung or pleura, who may have been exposed to asbestos in the past. miRview(TM) tests are designed to provide objective diagnostic data; it is the treating physician’s responsibility to diagnose and administer the appropriate treatment. The company’s tests are now being offered through distributors around the globe. For more information, please visit www.mirviewdx.com.

About Rosetta Genomics

Rosetta Genomics is a leading developer of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics. Founded in 2000, the company’s integrative research platform combining bioinformatics and state-of-the-art laboratory processes has led to the discovery of hundreds of biologically validated novel human microRNAs. Building on its strong patent position and proprietary platform technologies, Rosetta Genomics is working on the application of these technologies in the development of a full range of microRNA-based diagnostic tools. The company’s first three microRNA-based tests, miRview(TM) squamous, miRview(TM) mets and miRview(TM) meso, are commercially available through its Philadelphia-based CAP accredited, CLIA-certified lab. Rosetta Genomics is the 2008 winner of the Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards in the medical/biotech category. To learn more, please visit www.rosettagenomics.com.

“We are grateful to the U.S. Senate for unanimously passing S. RES. 427 that will increase public awareness about asbestos, a known human carcinogen;” said Linda Reinstein, CEO and Co-Founder, “For the past six years, ADAO has seen that a week of awareness enables agencies, institutions and organization to promote regulatory compliance and enforcement. Americans deserve and want to know how to prevent asbestos in their homes or in the workplace.”

Asbestos exposure can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Studies estimate that during the next decade, 100,000 workers around the world will die of an asbestos related disease – equaling 30 deaths per day.

ADAO will hold its Sixth Annual International Asbestos Conference on April 10, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Honorable Richard Durbin, United States Senator, will receive the ADAO Tribute of Hope Award for his gallant efforts to protect public health and promote worker safety.

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest independent organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

Bionomics has already commenced Phase II testing of the anti-cancer properties of BNC105 in renal cancer in the US.

The commencement of these two Phase II trials follows a successful BNC105 Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Western Hospital, Austin Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The Bionomics’ Phase II trial of BNC105P is a single arm, unblinded study for patients with mesothelioma who have progressed on platinum/pemetrexed chemotherapy. BNC105 will be administered on days 1 and 8 of 21 day cycles. Treatment will continue until disease progression.

Earlier in December 2009, Bionomics had entered into a collaboration with the Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group (ALTG) and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) to conduct the clinical trial in mesothelioma.

Anna Nowak, principal investigator of the trial, said: "An early clinical trial of BNC105 suggested some promise in mesothelioma. This Phase II trial will provide hope and an opportunity to participate in a research study for people with mesothelioma who do not have other options for treatment.

"The Australian Lung Cancer Trials Group is very happy to have partnered with Bionomics to carry out a clinical trial of this interesting novel therapy in centres around Australia. The investigators are particularly pleased to be working with an Australian company, and that the study has been developed, approved and opened for patients within a very short timeframe."

Deborah Rathjen, managing director and CEO of Bionomics, said: "I am delighted to report the rapid approval and initiation of this clinical trial. We are expecting to report interim results of this study in mesothelioma patients early in 2011.”

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma refers to the thoracic-based form of the disease, the most common type of mesothelioma.

Although asbestos exposure is a major risk factor for mesothelioma, it can remain latent for more than 20 years and may require a predisposition to the disease. In addition, it can also occur in individuals that previously experienced radiation exposure (e.g. treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma).

Dr. Krug noted that, “Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. In addition, a physician’s initial evaluation of a patient may reveal pleural effusion, but it can often be missed on pleural fluid cytology.”

Common symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness or breath or chest pain among others including tumor fevers, sweats, weight loss, and pneumonia.

A surgical biopsy is often required to effectively diagnose a patient with mesothelioma according to Dr. Krug. PET scans can aid in staging as well, detecting unexpected metastases in 10 percent of cases.

Prognostic factors include gender, lymph node status, and histology, but Dr. Krug also pointed to other potential markers that may be indicative of the disease.

“Serum markers may also have prognostic significance as studies show that patients with mesothelioma have higher levels of Soluble Mesothelin-Relation Protein (SMRP) and Osteopontin,” said Dr. Krug.

Like any cancer, treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors including the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, and how far the cancer has spread. Dr. Krug described treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation that may benefit patients as described in the NCCN Guidelines for MPM.

Surgical procedures for MPM can range from a pleurectomy/decortication for those patients with early stage disease to more aggressive procedures, such as extrapleural pneumonectomy. Extrapleural pneumonectomy includes the removal of pleura, the lung, diaphragm, and pericardium, but can result in major complications and should only be performed by experienced surgeons.

“The role of aggressive surgery remains controversial,” said Dr. Krug. “As outlined in the Principles for Surgical Resection for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in the NCCN Guidelines, physicians need to be highly selective when choosing potential candidates for this procedure.”

Surgery alone can be inadequate due to residual disease and a high rate of relapse, so the NCCN Guidelines recommend a combined modality therapy approach for select patients noted Dr. Krug.

The NCCN Guidelines consist of a section detailing the Principles of Radiation Therapy for MPM that stress the need for a multimodality approach including evaluation of the patient by radiation oncologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, diagnostic imaging specialists, and pulmonologists.

“Radiation is recommended as an adjuvant therapy to improve local control after surgery, and it is also an effective palliative treatment for relief of chest pain that is often associated with mesothelioma,” said Dr. Krug.

Dr. Krug explained that MPM was historically felt to be chemoresistant, but that recent studies have shown that certain regimens can benefit patients and also can be added for systemic therapy either before or after surgery.

“The NCCN Guidelines recommends pemetrexed (Alimta®, Lilly USA, LLC) with cisplatin (Platinol®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) or carboplatin (Paraplatin®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) as the optimal first-line combination chemotherapy regimen for patients, though others can be considered based on comorbid conditions,” said Dr. Krug. “On the other hand, there are extremely limited data on the benefit of second line therapy. A few specific regimens are listed as second line options in the NCCN Guidelines.”

The NCCN Guidelines are developed and updated through an evidence-based process with explicit review of the scientific evidence integrated with expert judgment by multidisciplinary panels of physicians from NCCN Member Institutions. The most recent version of this and all the NCCN Guidelines are available free of charge at NCCN.org.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.

The NCCN Member Institutions are:

• City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
• Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Durham, NC
• Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA
• The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
• Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center &amp
• Research Institute, Tampa, FL
• The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
• Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, Memphis, TN
• Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford, CA
• University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL
• UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI
• UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
• and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN.

For more information, visit NCCN.org.

"The grants that were selected for funding this year, have the potential to accelerate development of novel therapies that will have a significant impact on how we treat patients with mesothelioma," says Raffit Hassan, MD, Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute and Meso Foundation Science Advisory Board Chairman.

This round, the Meso Foundation received 56 grant applications. Its scientific peer reviewers selected the top eight based on their innovation, research design, and promise. These include studies of a targeted vaccine anticipated to yield effective treatment without the side-effects currently associated with traditional mesothelioma treatment; a novel study of the role of hormones in malignant mesothelioma; several studies looking at improving the specificity and effectiveness in mesothelioma of drugs already available to cancer patients, while reducing their side effects; and a study focused specifically on peritoneal mesothelioma, aimed at targeting residual tumor cells after surgical debulking as well as enabling earlier detection. The full list of projects can be seen in the Mesothelioma Research Grant Awards section of CureMeso.org.

"We are thrilled that our mesothelioma research funding continues to foster such strong interest among brilliant medical scientists and we have high expectations for these projects. As the national nonprofit advocating for mesothelioma patients today, and for all those who will be diagnosed in the future, we will continue raising funds for life-saving research and we won’t stop until there is a cure," says Chris Hahn, Executive Director for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the lining of the lung, abdomen or heart caused by asbestos. Medical experts consider it one of the most aggressive of all cancers. For decades it was regarded as untreatable, deadly and hopeless; and so, in a sad, self-fulfilling prophecy, the need for research to develop effective treatments was mostly ignored. For the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and today’s patients, their families, and the millions of Americans who in the last five decades have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk for the cancer, this is unacceptable. The Foundation believes in a cure for this tragic disease, and is committed to funding the research critically-needed to understand and improve treatment of the disease.

In addition, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation provides patients and families with the most up-to-date information on mesothelioma treatments, clinical trials and medical referrals. The Foundation hosts the annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, which unites doctors, researchers, patients and families, legal advocates, union representatives and other concerned individuals to share information and advance meso research. The Foundation also leads the effort in Washington, D.C. to gain federal investment in mesothelioma research funding and to ban the further use of asbestos. For more information visit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s website at http://www.curemeso.org.

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announced today that the results of a joint study with the NYU Langone Medical Center were published online on February 16th, 2010, and are set to be published in the March 1st issue of the American Association for Cancer Research’s journal, Cancer Research. The study, "Hsa-Mir-29c* is Linked to the Prognosis of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma," demonstrates the potential of a single microRNA to act as an independent prognostic factor for time to progression as well as survival after surgery. The abstract of the study may be viewed online at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/0008-5472.CAN-09-3993v1

In the study, 142 MPM tumors were analyzed for microRNA expression levels using Rosetta Genomics’ proprietary microRNA-based array and qRT-PCR technologies. The results clearly demonstrate that higher levels of miR-29c* in MPM predict a more favorable prognosis. Not only was the microRNA able to separate MPM patients by time to progression after surgery, but it also stratified these patients by their survival.

When examining Time to Progression (TTP) of MPM, the expression level of miR-29c* enabled the identification of two groups with significantly different median TTP: 4 months versus 14 months in the study’s training set, and 5.5 months versus 12.8 months in the study’s test set.

When examining survival rates for MPM, the expression level of miR-29c* enabled the identification of two groups as well: median survival of 8 months versus 32 months in the study’s training set, and median survival of 9.1 months versus 21.6 months in the study’s test set. This new diagnostic capability may help physicians apply more aggressive therapeutic modalities to the poor prognosis group.

Furthermore, the study found that over-expression of miR-29c* in mesothelioma cell lines resulted in significantly decreased proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation.

"This is an exciting discovery which may have significant clinical impact on the treatment of MPM," said Harvey Pass, M.D., Professor and Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the lead investigator of this study. "While MPM is an aggressive cancer, our study showed that we can use a single microRNA to identify subgroups of patients who differ significantly in their time to progression and survival. When applied to a clinical setting, these findings may enable clinicians to apply multimodality therapy to the most appropriate patients. Furthermore, I think it is remarkable that a single biomarker can provide such insights into disease prognosis."

"In addition to the significant clinical importance of being able to forecast outcomes of MPM, this study demonstrates the tremendous potential microRNAs hold as biomarkers," noted Kenneth A. Berlin, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics. "NYU Langone Medical Center chose Rosetta Genomics’ platform technology for this study as it was the most technologically advanced, offering an extremely high sensitivity and specificity suitable for studying microRNAs in the clinical setting. The results of this study further validate the strength of our microRNA platform technologies and our ability to leverage that strength to help advance the standard of care."

About microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered, small RNAs that act as master regulators of protein synthesis, and have been shown to be highly effective biomarkers. MicroRNAs’ unique advantage as biomarkers lies in their high tissue specificity, and their exceptional stability in the most routine preservation methods for biopsies, including Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) block. It has been suggested that their small size (19-21 nucleotides) enables them to remain intact in FFPE blocks, as opposed to messenger RNA (mRNA), which tends to degrade rapidly in samples preserved by this method. In addition, early preclinical data has shown that by controlling the levels of specific microRNAs, cancer cell growth may be reduced. To learn more about microRNAs, please visit www.rosettagenomics.com.

About miRview™ Products

miRview™ are a series of microRNA-based diagnostic products offered by Rosetta Genomics. miRview™ mets accurately identifies the primary tumor site in metastatic cancer and Cancer of Unknown Primary. miRview™ squamous accurately identifies the squamous subtype of NSCLC, which carries an increased risk of severe or fatal internal bleeding and poor response to treatment for certain therapies. miRview™ meso diagnoses mesothelioma, a cancer connected to asbestos exposure. 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 U.S. alone, over 100,000 patients a year may benefit from the miRview™ mets test, 60,000 from miRview™ squamous, and 60,000 from miRview™ meso, with similar numbers of patients outside the U.S. The company’s tests are now being offered through distributors around the globe. For more information, please visit www.mirviewdx.com.

About Rosetta Genomics

Rosetta Genomics is a leading developer of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics. Founded in 2000, the company’s integrative research platform combining bioinformatics and state-of-the-art laboratory processes has led to the discovery of hundreds of biologically validated novel human microRNAs. Building on its strong patent position and proprietary platform technologies, Rosetta Genomics is working on the application of these technologies in the development of a full range of microRNA-based diagnostic tools. The company’s first three microRNA-based tests, miRview™ squamous, miRview™ mets and miRview™ meso, are commercially available through its Philadelphia-based CLIA-certified lab. Rosetta Genomics is the 2008 winner of the Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards in the medical/biotech category. To learn more, please visit www.rosettagenomics.com .