CHICAGO — February 18, 2026 — Leads & Copy —
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM) has launched its new HRD-RNA algorithm, designed to improve the identification of Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD). The company said the next-generation model provides a more robust assessment of tumor biology compared to traditional DNA-based assays.
The AI-driven, 1,660-gene logistic regression model identifies patients likely to respond to platinum-based chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors. The RNA-based approach provides a dynamic, real-time assessment of a tumor’s functional status, unlike traditional DNA tests that analyze static genomic scars, which may persist even after a patient develops drug resistance, the company said.
By analyzing gene expression instead of structural DNA damage, the algorithm detects HRD in patients and cancer types where genomic scarring is rare or difficult to identify, according to Tempus. The company said the methodology captures HRD status in patients who might be missed by DNA-based assays, expanding the population that can be identified for therapies.
A real-world validation study found that HRD-RNA positive metastatic pancreatic patients treated with first-line platinum-based regimens showed a reduction in mortality risk compared to those receiving non-platinum first-line therapies. The complete data will be published later this year.
Halla Nimeiri, MD, Chief Development Officer at Tempus, said the HRD-RNA algorithm gives physicians a tool to better inform treatment decisions. Nimeiri said that by looking at the transcriptome, a functional HRD status that is more dynamic than what can be seen in the genome alone can be identified. Nimeiri added that the work exemplifies how Tempus is leveraging its AI platform and vast repository of data to create clinical solutions with real-world impact.
HRD-RNA is currently available for research use only in the detection of HRD status within solid tumor patient populations and for the identification of patients likely to respond to platinum regimens or PARP inhibitor therapy. Clinical availability is expected later this year.
Tempus is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. With one of the world’s largest libraries of multimodal data, and an operating system to make that data accessible and useful, Tempus provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and facilitates discovery, development, and delivery of optimal therapeutics.
The goal is for each patient to benefit from the treatment of others who came before by providing physicians with tools that learn as the company gathers more data.
Source: Tempus AI, Inc.
