Asuragen Secures MicroRNA Licensing Agreement with Rockefeller University

Asuragen, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a semi-exclusive licensing agreement with Rockefeller University for the diagnostic rights to its proprietary microRNA sequences.

Through this agreement, Asuragen will have access to microRNAs identified by a group led by Rockefeller University researcher, Thomas Tuschl, Ph.D.

The microRNAs have been found to have expression profiles and functions involved with human diseases like diabetes and cancer.

"This licensing agreement, combined with our expertise in microRNAs, will facilitate Asuragen's efforts to investigate the potential of these new molecular biomarkers as diagnostic analytes," said Matt Winkler, CEO of Asuragen. 

"We spun Asuragen out of Ambion to create a molecular diagnostics company focused on RNA technologies and this license significantly strengthens our position in this rapidly growing field."