Rules-Based Medicine

About Rules-Based Medicine

Rules-Based Medicine (RBM) was a life sciences company founded in 1998 and based in Austin, Texas, that specialized in biomarker services to support pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners in drug development. The company's business model centered on providing testing services and products that enabled researchers to analyze hundreds of proteins from small biological samples, thereby accelerating research and improving clinical trial outcomes. The primary clients were pharmaceutical companies, clinical researchers, and healthcare providers engaged in preclinical and clinical research.

RBM's core offering was its proprietary Multi-Analyte Profiling (MAP) technology, a multiplexed immunoassay platform that offered broad and cost-effective protein analysis. This technology was instrumental in the discovery of novel biomarkers and the development of diagnostic tests for complex diseases in areas like neuropsychiatry, immunology, and nephrology. The firm developed over 550 immunoassays and also provided custom MAP services, multiplexed immunoassay kits, and ultrasensitive testing services using Single-Molecule Array (Simoa) technology. This robust platform not only served external partners but also fueled an internal pipeline of molecular diagnostic product candidates.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Myriad Genetics, Inc. in June 2011 for approximately $80 million in cash. Following the acquisition, RBM began operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary under the name Myriad RBM, Inc., continuing its mission from its Austin facilities. At the time of the sale, RBM had around 160 employees and had established strategic alliances with more than 20 major pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Later, in 2021, Myriad RBM was acquired by IQVIA, becoming part of its laboratory services division. Key figures during its operation included T. Craig Benson as President and Chief Executive Officer, James P. Mapes as Chief Scientific Officer, and Ralph L. McDade as Strategic Development Officer.