Media release
From: Proteomics International Laboratories LtdOxiDx test detects muscle damage in thoroughbred racehorses - Tracking muscle recovery after a horse race: a new diagnostic test emerges
- Groundbreaking results demonstrate the first-in-class OxiDx test can identify and assess recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in Australian thoroughbred racehorses
- New results show OxiDx’s novel technology offers a simple solution for managing recovery and return to training or competition in thoroughbred horses following damaging exercise (a race)
- Results published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Medicine and Science
- Oxidative stress has been implicated in many disease and injury states with levels often reflective of a person or animal’s health condition
- Muscle injuries are a major issue in the racing industry, with up to 85% of thoroughbreds sustaining at least one injury during their two- and three-year-old racing seasons, potentially as a result of undetected muscle injuries
Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd (Proteomics International; ASX: PIQ), a pioneer in precision diagnostics, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary OxiDx Pty Ltd in collaboration with The University of Western Australia (UWA) has published groundbreaking results demonstrating the unique OxiDx test for oxidative stress can identify muscle damage and assess recovery in Australian thoroughbred racehorses.
Muscle injuries are a major issue in the racing industry, with it being difficult to objectively identify them, resulting in many going undetected. Approximately 85% of thoroughbreds sustain at least one injury during their two- and three-year-old racing seasons[1], potentially as a result of undetected muscle injuries.
For racehorses to compete at their peak performance, they must achieve optimal fitness, which necessitates intense training regimes. However persisting with training and/or competition with muscle damage may result in: (1) decreased performance, (2) an increased risk of major muscle injury - including strains or tears, or (3) the inability to compete.
This study addresses a significant gap in the field of equine veterinary medicine, focusing on the lack of sensitive biomarkers for exercise-induced muscle damage. Published over the weekend in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Science and Medicine, the study highlighted the ability of the OxiDx oxidative stress test as a novel diagnostic for monitoring muscle recovery.
Results across the 34 horses studied indicated, for most, levels of oxidative stress peaked 48 hours post-race and remained elevated for up to five days. However, individual variability was significant, with some horses showing prolonged recovery times of over seven days. This variability emphasises the importance of monitoring the recovery of each horse to prevent premature training or competition resumption.
OxiDx’s diagnostic sensitivity to muscle recovery offers horse trainers a tool to objectively tailor training and racing schedules for individual horses to optimise post-race recovery and enhance performance.
Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe said, “these exciting results mark a significant milestone in applying the OxiDx test to equine veterinary medicine. OxiDx has the potential to empower trainers to monitor muscle recovery with precision, helping their racehorses achieve peak performance while prioritising equine health and well-being.”
Current standard-of-care to identify and proactively manage a horse’s muscle damage involves magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan, or ultrasound, which are expensive and time consuming, muscle enzyme tests, which are imprecise, or observation of the gait/lameness assessment, which is subjective and often post the actual injury occurring.
The world-first, patented OxiDx technology measures levels of muscle damage using a dried blood spot to detect protein biomarkers. There is no equivalent test on the market. This successful study is a significant milestone in the commercialisation of the OxiDx test which is targeted for an Australian launch in H2 CY25.
OxiDx commercialisation next steps:
➢ Clinical utility study underway to further validate the ability of the OxiDx test to predict muscle damage in racehorses
➢ Proteomics International aims to launch the novel test in Australia through its OxiDx subsidiary in H2 2025, and then expand into the USA via the Company's US Reference Laboratory [ASX: 28 February]
About OxiDx
OxiDx Pty Ltd (Perth, Western Australia) is a 66 per cent owned subsidiary of Proteomics International. OxiDx is commercialising technology for measuring oxidative stress developed in collaboration with The University of Western Australia. Oxidative stress is implicated in over 70 health conditions, with levels often reflective of a person or animal's health condition. The patented OxiDx test detects systemic oxidative stress using a precise ratio-metric method to detect protein biomarkers via a simple fingerpick blood sample that can be collected in the home or on the field. Target applications include high-performance athletes and the horse racing industry, where the OxiDx test can be used to assess muscle damage and to monitor recovery from heavy exercise.
About Proteomics International Laboratories (PILL) (www.proteomicsinternational.com)
Proteomics International (Perth, Western Australia) is a wholly owned subsidiary and trading name of PILL (ASX: PIQ), a medical technology company at the forefront of precision diagnostics and bio-analytical services. The Company specialises in the area of proteomics – the industrial scale study of the structure and function of proteins. Proteomics International's mission is to improve the quality of lives by the creation and application of innovative tools that enable the improved treatment of disease.
[1] Animals (2023); doi: 10.3390/ani13030490
