Rules-Based Medicine

What Rules-Based Medicine does

Rules-Based Medicine, founded in 2002 in Austin, Texas, is a multiplexed immunoassay testing laboratory that provides comprehensive protein biomarker services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It now operates as IQVIA Laboratories Protein Biomarkers following a 2024 rebrand that positioned it as the Protein Biomarker Center of Excellence within IQVIA's broader laboratory services portfolio. The lab offers thousands of biomarkers across five complementary immunoassay platforms — Luminex (approximately 250 internally developed assays and 60+ multiplex configurations, active since 2002), Simoa (approximately 50 single-plex assays with a CNS-focused menu, active since 2014), Olink-certified Explore HT/Target/Flex/Focus panels (since 2024), Meso Scale Discovery chemokine, cytokine and proinflammatory panels (since 2025), and Alamar NULISA inflammation and CNS disease panels (since 2026). Its proprietary TruCulture® whole blood collection and culturing tubes, cited in dozens of peer-reviewed publications, enable standardized functional immunophenotyping across research sites.

The company's primary use case is pharmacodynamic and translational biomarker testing to support drug development, including dose-response studies, functional immune cell analysis, disease characterization, and patient stratification. Service offerings extend beyond platform-based assay work to include custom assay development and validation, verification of commercial kits, biomarker development services, and integration into IQVIA's central laboratory and bioanalytical infrastructure. Customers are pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors conducting clinical trials and translational research programs; engagements are typically contracted on a project basis. With 51-100 employees at the Austin site and a global reach via IQVIA, Rules-Based Medicine generates revenue as a non-reportable segment of publicly traded IQVIA Holdings (NYSE: IQV), and no standalone revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

Rules-Based Medicine

Legal name

IQVIA Holdings Inc.

Website

https://rbm.q2labsolutions.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rules-Based Medicine, now IQVIA Laboratories Protein Biomarkers, is an Austin-based multiplexed immunoassay laboratory serving pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors with protein biomarker testing across five platforms (Luminex, Simoa, Olink, MSD, Alamar NULISA) and proprietary TruCulture® whole blood collection tubes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Laboratory / Biomarker Testing Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Biomarker Testing Services (central labs, trial enrollment/monitoring assays) (HLAAAMAC), Biomarker Assay & Reagent Development (LDT/IVD assay design, antibodies/standards/controls) (HLAAAMAL), Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE)

Keywords

• Biomarker testing services
• Multiplexed immunoassays
• Protein biomarker analysis
• Pharmacodynamic assays
• Clinical research laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Rules-Based Medicine is a multiplexed immunoassay testing laboratory that delivers tailored protein biomarker testing to support translational and clinical research. The offering spans thousands of biomarkers across multiple immunoassay platforms (Luminex, Simoa, Olink, Alamar NULISA, and Meso Scale Discovery), paired with proprietary TruCulture whole-blood collection tubes and custom assay development, validation, and verification services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.

Product overview

Rules-Based Medicine, now operating as IQVIA Laboratories Protein Biomarkers, provides a comprehensive portfolio of biomarker testing services for translational and clinical research. The offering spans multiple immunoassay platforms (Luminex, Simoa, Olink, Alamar NULISA, and Meso Scale Discovery) that work together with proprietary TruCulture tubes for whole blood collection. The core platforms range from broad multiplex capability (Luminex with 60+ configurations) to specialized focused menus (Simoa CNS, Alamar NULISA CNS Disease 120), supported by assay development and validation services to meet pharmacodynamic assessment needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TruCulture: Proprietary whole blood collection and culturing tubes enabling standardized functional immunophenotyping across sites. Used for pharmacodynamics (including dose-response), functional immune cell analysis, disease characterization and patient stratification.

Products and services

• Luminex Immunoassay Platform Multiplex immunoassay platform offering approximately 250 internally developed assays and 60+ multiplex configurations for biomarker analysis, used in translational and clinical research by pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
• Simoa Immunoassay Platform Single-molecule array platform with approximately 50 internally developed single-plex assays, including a focused CNS (central nervous system) menu for high-sensitivity biomarker detection.
• Olink Certified Service Olink-certified provider offering Explore HT, Target, Flex and Focus product panels for proximity extension assay-based biomarker analysis to translational and clinical research clients.
• Alamar NULISA Platform Multiplexed biomarker platform featuring Inflammation AQ panel with quantitative measurements, Inflammation 250 panel, and CNS Disease 120 panel for protein biomarker analysis.
• Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) Platform Electrochemiluminescence platform offering Chemokine panel 1 (Gen B), Cytokine panel 1, and Proinflammatory panel 1 for multiplexed biomarker detection.
• TruCulture Tubes Proprietary whole blood collection and culturing tubes that enable standardized functional immunophenotyping across multiple research sites for pharmacodynamics, dose-response analysis, functional immune cell analysis, disease characterization and patient stratification.
• Assay Development Services Custom assay development and validation services for pharmacodynamic needs, including verification of commercial kits, delivered to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
• Biomarker Development Services Comprehensive biomarker development services supporting translational and clinical research programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
• Central Laboratory Services Full-service central laboratory capabilities for clinical research and drug development, delivered as part of IQVIA Laboratories' global central laboratory network.
• Immunoassay Services Professional immunoassay testing services utilizing multiple technology platforms (Luminex, Simoa, Olink, Alamar NULISA, MSD) for translational and clinical research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cited in dozens of peer-reviewed publications for TruCulture applications

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ICON Central Laboratories: ICON Central Laboratories offers global central lab and biomarker testing services supporting clinical trials for pharma/biotech sponsors. Its end-to-end clinical research and lab services portfolio makes it a broad incumbent comparable to the IQVIA/Covance/Charles River tier.
• Eurofins Central Laboratory: Eurofins Central Laboratory provides global central lab and specialty biomarker testing for clinical trials across multiple technology platforms. With broad geographic reach and a wide assay menu, it competes with RBM for biomarker contracts in multinational clinical studies.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River Laboratories offers a broad portfolio of discovery, safety assessment, and laboratory services including biomarker and bioanalytical offerings for pharma/biotech sponsors. Its scale and integrated service model place it as a broad incumbent competitor for biomarker work tied to drug development programs.
• PPD Central Laboratory (Thermo Fisher Scientific): PPD, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, operates central lab and bioanalytical services including biomarker testing for global clinical trials. Its integration with Thermo Fisher's analytical instruments (e.g., proprietary platforms) makes it a broad incumbent with internal instrument advantages comparable to RBM's multi-platform approach.
• Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): Labcorp Drug Development operates one of the largest global central laboratory networks offering biomarker, immunoassay, and bioanalytical services to pharma/biotech sponsors. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping biomarker capabilities and significantly greater scale than RBM, competing for large multi-protocol trial engagements.

Emerging players

• Olink Holding AB: Olink is both a platform partner to RBM (Olink-certified service provider) and an emerging player offering its own high-throughput proteomics services. Olink's Explore platform competes in next-generation proteomics, and the company's direct service expansion could overlap with RBM's Olink-certified offerings.
• Quanterix: Quanterix develops the Simoa single-molecule array platform that RBM uses for its CNS menu and high-sensitivity assays. Quanterix is expanding its own accelerator lab services and instruments, making it both a critical technology partner and an emerging competitor in ultra-sensitive protein biomarker services.
• Meso Scale Diagnostics: Meso Scale Diagnostics (MSD) provides the electrochemiluminescence platform RBM recently adopted (2025) for chemokine, cytokine, and proinflammatory panels. MSD's instrument and kit business intersects with specialty service labs, and its direct services or partnerships with competing CROs could affect RBM's positioning on this newly added platform.

Direct peers

• Q² Solutions: Q² Solutions is a central laboratory and biomarker services provider serving pharma/biotech clinical trials, historically a joint venture involving IQVIA. It competes head-to-head with IQVIA Laboratories Protein Biomarkers for central lab and biomarker contracts, and the historical RBM website URL was hosted under the q2labsolutions.com domain, indicating deep operational ties.
• Myriad RBM (now Myriad Genetics): Myriad RBM was historically the closest direct competitor to Rules-Based Medicine in multiplexed immunoassay biomarker services for pharma/biotech translational research. Both labs offered Luminex-based multiplex panels and central lab biomarker testing; Myriad acquired RBM's former competitor and continues to operate a specialty biomarker lab serving similar customers with overlapping assay menus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RBMQ2Solutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/RulesBasedMedicine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rules-Based Medicine