Ribolytix provides a label-free, mass-spectrometry-based platform that measures RNA-binding protein (RBP) target engagement and selectivity directly in living cells. Its RBP-SP™ and RBP-TE™ assays quantify RNA–protein interaction states without tags, proxies, or stability assumptions, enabling drug discovery teams to confirm on-target binding and flag off-target RBP perturbations early. The platform supports medicinal chemistry optimization by generating IC₅₀ values and time-dependent engagement kinetics under native cellular conditions.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
RNA- and RBP-targeted drug programs often advance without clear evidence that candidate compounds engage their intended RNA-binding protein targets selectively in living cells. Existing methods rely on tags, overexpression, or stability-shift inferences that can distort native biology and produce false positives, leaving researchers without reliable mechanistic readouts during early discovery and lead optimization.
Solution
Ribolytix delivers direct, label-free measurement of cellular target engagement and selectivity across the RNA-binding proteome using mass spectrometry. The platform quantifies RNA–protein interaction states in intact cells under native conditions, eliminating the need for engineered tags, fluorescent labels, or protein overexpression. Its RBP Target Engagement (RBP-TE™) assays provide quantitative IC₅₀ values and time-dependent engagement kinetics for nominated targets, while RBP Selectivity Profiling (RBP-SP™) offers broad, unbiased profiling across the RBPome to identify early selectivity liabilities. These mechanism-coupled readouts enable more confident prioritization of drug candidates and support medicinal chemistry optimization with biologically relevant data.
Target Audience
Primary customers are drug discovery teams in biotech and pharmaceutical companies developing RNA- or RBP-targeted therapies, particularly those in early discovery and lead optimization stages needing mechanistic target engagement data.
Features
- RBP-TE™ assays: focused, quantitative assessment of cellular target engagement with IC₅₀ values and time-dependent kinetics for nominated RBP targets
- RBP-SP™ assays: broad, unbiased selectivity profiling across the RNA-binding proteome via mass spectrometry, resolving mechanism-relevant engagement patterns and early off-target liabilities
- Native biology readouts: measurements performed in intact cells under endogenous conditions, reducing artifacts from cell-free systems or overexpression
- Label- and tag-free detection: quantification of native targets without engineered tags, fluorescent labels, or protein overexpression that can distort biology
- No stability assumptions: direct measurement of engagement via RNA–protein interaction state, not inferred from stability shifts or protease susceptibility
- LEAP-RBP methodology: validated approach introduced in Nature Communications (2023) for selective isolation and quantitative analysis of endogenous RNA-bound proteins