The proteomics revolution and a peptide drug catalyst
Proteomics is reaching an inflection point like the one genomics went through in the 2010s. HIMS Labs is uniquely placed as the democratised entry point. The YourBio acquisition removes the last point of friction (at-home blood draws). Peptide deregulation is a near-term catalyst.
Key insights
- SomaScan has gone from measuring 800 proteins to 11,000, and Olink covers 5,400+. Testing thousands of proteins from one tube of blood is already a reality, and costs keep falling.
- UK Biobank releases its full proteomic dataset on 600,000 people in 2026. That will uncover a vast number of links between protein markers and disease risk.
- HIMS Labs ($350 a year, 130+ biomarkers) sits right at the mass-market entry point.
- CEO Andrew Dudum's drive is personal. His father-in-law, a physicist who cycled 40-50 miles a week, had 2 heart attacks and was twice clinically dead because of off-the-charts Lp(a). When the whole family was tested, half had sky-high Lp(a) without knowing it.
- YourBio's TAP device draws blood at home with bladeless microneedles, making frequent testing (monthly or weekly) possible.
- Frequent testing and AI trend analysis turn a 'check-up snapshot' into 'continuous monitoring'.
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- Proteomics has built-in repeat demand. Unlike genomics, where one test is enough, proteins need testing again and again.
- Data flywheel: more users mean more proteomic and health data, better AI prediction models, a better experience and higher retention.
Peptide catalyst
- FDA event
An FDA advisory committee meets on 23-24 Jul to discuss easing the rules on 7 peptides (including BPC-157)
- Moat
HIMS is the only telehealth company in the US with its own peptide manufacturing plant
- Price action
HIMS is up about 25% this week
- Source
Reuters, 16 Apr: analysts see this as a long-term positive for HIMS
Proteomics thesis
- Analogy
Proteomics is going through an inflection point like genomics in the 2010s
- Data unlock
UK Biobank releases its full proteomic dataset on 600,000 people in 2026
- HIMS positioning
Labs currently covers standard blood tests (basic chemistry, hormones and lipoproteins). As proteomics costs fall it can add more protein markers, laying the data foundation for a personal health digital twin.
- Platforms
- SomaScan (11,000 proteins)
- Olink (5,400+ proteins)
A brief is a lead for our research, not a verified conclusion or advice.