Rosetta Genomics Fortifies Patent Position with U.S. Allowance of Claims Covering Human microRNAs miR-21 and hcmv-miR-UL112

REHOVOT, Israel & PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosetta Genomics (NASDAQ:ROSG) today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed claims in two patent applications.

“Rosetta Genomics owns or has access to intellectual property related to microRNAs that is among the broadest of any commercial entity, and these two notices of allowance further solidify our position”

The first, covering human microRNA miR-21, was derived from the “Tuschl III” patent series that is assigned to the Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany and is used in Rosetta’s miRview™ mets and miRview™ squamous diagnostic assays. Rosetta holds a co-exclusive license to miR-21 in diagnostic applications, and a non-exclusive license for the research use field. The second patent application, covering Sanger viral hcmv-miR-UL112 and its precursor, was shown to suppress the human (host) immune system during viral infection. The allowed claims are directed to the miR, its hairpin, its complement, a DNA encoding the same, a sequence 80% identical to, a vector and a probe comprising the same.

“Rosetta Genomics owns or has access to intellectual property related to microRNAs that is among the broadest of any commercial entity, and these two notices of allowance further solidify our position,” said Kenneth A. Berlin, president and chief executive officer. “Our patent applications and issued patents cover approximately 51% of publicly registered microRNAs, plus 168 non-public, newly discovered microRNAs. microRNAs are at the forefront of an exciting revolution in personalized medicine and we believe that Rosetta is leading the way in diagnostic uses as we harness this knowledge to advance our deep pipeline of products.”

Rosetta Genomics has filed more than 20 patent applications worldwide to protect each aspect of its commercial diagnostic products. Many of these applications protect the specific microRNAs used in the company’s products. In addition, the company is pursuing more than 50 patent applications to protect methods of detecting microRNAs and methods of diagnosing and treating diseases with microRNAs.

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 IP 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 Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Awards in the medical/biotech category. To learn more, please visit www.rosettagenomics.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release concerning Rosetta’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, statements relating to Rosetta’s intellectual property and patent coverage and advancement of Rosetta’s pipeline of products, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those risks more fully discussed under “Key Information - Risk Factors” in Rosetta’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Rosetta’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Rosetta does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.