HistoRx

HistoRx, Inc. was a developer of tissue-based diagnostic solutions focused on advancing individualized patient care, primarily in the oncology market. Founded in 2001 by Dr. David Rimm, an Associate Professor of Pathology at Yale University, and Robert A. Curtis, the company commercialized technology originally developed at Yale Medical School. The firm's core offering was its proprietary Automated Quantitative Analysis (AQUA®) technology. This platform was engineered to precisely measure protein biomarker concentration and location within the subcellular compartments of cells in tissue samples. The technology's main benefit was its ability to provide objective, standardized, and reproducible analysis, moving beyond the subjective interpretations common in traditional pathology.

The company's business model revolved around providing products and services based on the AQUA® platform. This included customized biomarker assays, reagents, instrumentation, and software for quantitative analysis. HistoRx served pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, using its technology to guide drug development and therapeutic decision-making. The company generated revenue through research collaborations and product development agreements. A key part of its strategy involved licensing the AQUA® technology to other diagnostic and genetics companies for the development and commercialization of their own diagnostic assays.

HistoRx's journey included several key milestones, starting with raising over $13.3 million in funding across multiple rounds from investors like Brook Venture Partners and Navigator Technology Ventures. In 2010, the company entered into significant licensing agreements with firms like Genoptix and Metamark Genetics, allowing them to use the AQUA® technology for clinical diagnostics. This success and collaboration culminated in its acquisition by Genoptix in September 2012. At the time, Genoptix, itself a subsidiary of Novartis, was a primary licensee of the AQUA® technology. Following the acquisition, Genoptix integrated the technology to expand its portfolio of solid tumor diagnostics, while the HistoRx life sciences and pharma services divisions were discontinued. Today, the AQUA platform continues to be utilized by Navigate BioPharma, an independently operating subsidiary of Novartis, supporting clinical trials with digital pathology assays.

Keywords: HistoRx, AQUA technology, tissue-based diagnostics, quantitative pathology, biomarker analysis, personalized medicine, companion diagnostics, Genoptix, Novartis, David Rimm, cancer diagnostics, histopathology, molecular diagnostics, protein quantification, drug development, tumor analysis, fluorescent immunohistochemistry, in situ analysis, prognostic assays, oncology solutions