Proteomics equine blood test gives racing edge

Proteomics International has provided another strong data set from its precision diagnostics pipeline. The company found that its unique “OxiDx” blood test, which it majority-owned for Thoroughbred racehorses, showed a strong correlation between horses racing with low levels of oxidative stress and those more likely to win or win the race.

The company’s 66 per cent-owned subsidiary, OxiDx, is presenting its findings today at the annual scientific meeting of the Australian Physiological Society, and the results mark a meaningful step towards the commercialization of a first-in-class biomarker test aimed directly at the multibillion-dollar horse racing industry.

A new study evaluated 75 racehorses in 216 competitive events. He established an individual oxidative stress baseline for each animal through a custom blood test, before tracking daily measurements throughout the entire season before and after races. Horses determined by OxiDx blood testing to race without oxidative stress accounted for 88 percent of top-three finishes and were 76 percent more likely to place and 49 percent more likely to win than their stressed counterparts. The data set was statistically significant with less than a 0.01 percent chance of being randomly generated, and more importantly for trainers and owners, it points to a measurable physiological variable that is strongly associated with performance outcomes.

Proteomics International general manager Dr. Richard Lipscombe said the results confirmed the OxiDx test’s ability to provide trainers with a clearer picture of the horse’s readiness and recovery. The technology measures a sensitive biomarker of systemic oxidative stress; This is something that has historically been difficult to measure but has been closely linked to muscle damage, impaired recovery, and increased risk of injury. With 85 percent of Thoroughbreds sustaining at least one injury during their two- and three-year seasons, a non-invasive, evidence-based monitoring tool has obvious commercial appeal.

The new study builds on previous peer-reviewed studies published in the journal Veterinary Medicine & Science showing that the OxiDx test can detect and monitor recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. In this study, oxidative stress levels generally peaked 48 hours after the race and remained high for more than a week in some horses; This highlights why decisions to return to training too early can increase unnoticed muscle injuries.

The racing industry represents a profound commercial pipeline for Proteomics. While the Thoroughbred industry is worth more than A$400 billion globally, it exceeds $9 billion in Australia alone. Australia in particular is home to the largest number of racetracks of any country in the world, hosting major world-renowned events such as the Melbourne Cup and Everest. And across the industry, performance variability and musculoskeletal injuries continue to be the most expensive operational headaches for trainers, with the OxiDx testing suite specifically addressing both.

Proteomics says partnership talks with industry groups are ongoing and the horse’s launch will precede a planned expansion into elite human athletics.

While the current focus is on performance biomarkers for racehorses, OxiDx sits alongside Proteomics International’s expanding suite of precision diagnostics created using its “Promarker” biomarker discovery technology. The technology identifies protein fingerprints in a standard blood sample to detect and predict disease earlier and more accurately than current standards of care.

The company is currently commercializing four first-in-class tests. Remarkably, PromarkerD predicts diabetes-related chronic kidney disease up to four years before symptoms appear, demonstrating outstanding accuracy with AUC values ​​of 0.88 and a negative predictive value of up to 97.4 percent. “PromarkerEndo” is a blood test for diagnosing endometriosis that has been validated in more than 900 people; PromarkerEso detects esophageal adenocarcinoma with high accuracy at all stages, including early-stage disease, where outcomes are significantly improved. Together with OxiDx, the suite creates an arsenal of precision diagnostics targeting multibillion-dollar global markets.