Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ:TEM) shares rose 3.5% Wednesday after the precision medicine technology company unveiled a new RNA-based algorithm intended to improve detection of Homologous Recombination Deficiency, or HRD.
The model, branded HRD-RNA, is a 1,660-gene logistic regression algorithm developed to identify patients who are more likely to respond to platinum-based chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors. Tempus described the approach as an RNA-driven assessment that evaluates gene expression to provide a functional readout of tumor biology.
Tempus contrasted the HRD-RNA approach with traditional DNA-based tests. While DNA tests look for relatively static signatures of structural damage often called genomic scars, the company said the RNA model assesses the transcriptome and therefore reflects a more dynamic picture of tumor functional status. According to Tempus, that difference allows the model to detect HRD in patients and in cancer types where genomic scarring may be difficult to identify.
In outlining clinical relevance, Tempus cited a real-world validation study in metastatic pancreatic cancer. The company said HRD-RNA positive metastatic pancreatic patients who received first-line platinum-based regimens showed a significant reduction in mortality risk versus those treated with non-platinum first-line therapies. Tempus noted that the complete supporting data will be published later this year.
"Our HRD-RNA algorithm gives physicians a critical tool to better inform treatment decisions," said Halla Nimeiri, MD, Chief Development Officer at Tempus. "By looking at the transcriptome, we can identify a functional HRD status that is more dynamic than what can be seen in the genome alone."
Tempus indicated that the HRD-RNA algorithm is currently available for research use only. The company expects clinical availability later this year.
The announcement and preliminary validation results connect diagnostic innovation with potential treatment selection impacts, particularly in oncology. The firm has positioned an RNA-based classifier as a complementary or alternative tool to DNA-based HRD tests, with implications for physicians deciding between platinum chemotherapy and targeted PARP inhibitor strategies where HRD status is a determining factor.