Proteomics streaks ahead with simple test for injured racehorses
The company's 66 per cent-owned subsidiary OxiDx Limited has developed the blood test technology alongside researchers at The University of Western Australia. It uses a drop of dried blood to test for two protein biomarkers, which can identify the level of muscle damage in horses.
Proteomics aims to launch the first-in-class OxiDx test in Australia this year, and then plans to expand into the United States via the company's accredited Californian reference laboratory.
The company also has a clinical study underway to validate OxiDx's ability to predict muscle damage in racehorses, which will further support its commercialisation efforts.
Proteomics says the test will offer trainers a simple way to objectively measure a horse's muscle injury recovery, allowing them to tailor training and racing schedules to optimise the animal's post-race recovery and potentially enhance their subsequent performance.
'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.'
Proteomics International managing director Dr Richard Lipscombe
Over the weekend, the company published the results of a study of the novel test in the peer-reviewed journal, Veterinary Medicine and Science, which showed its OxiDx oxidative stress tests could monitor muscle recovery in racehorses.
Oxidative stress is caused by an overload of toxic oxidants - known as free radicals - which can overpower the body's natural defences, throwing the system off balance.
For the study, a group of Australian trainers collected dried blood samples from 34 horses before and up to seven days post-race, which were analysed by an external pathology centre for two key protein biomarkers.
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