OxiDx gallops ahead with world-first muscle injury test for racehorses


In a win for equine welfare and the science of sports medicine, Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX: PIQ) has revealed a breakthrough tool for monitoring muscle damage in racehorses—potentially transforming how thoroughbreds are managed in training and competition.

The test, developed by PIQ’s 66%-owned subsidiary OxiDx Pty Ltd in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, uses a dried blood spot to detect biomarkers of oxidative stress, offering a simple and objective alternative to traditional diagnostics. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Medicine and Science, the study marks a first-in-class application of the OxiDx test in equine athletes and brings the fledgling diagnostic closer to commercial launch.

Muscle injury remains one of the biggest unspoken hazards in the racing game. As many as 85% of thoroughbreds sustain at least one injury during their two- and three-year-old seasons—often the result of undiagnosed muscle damage that flies under the radar. Until now, vets and trainers have relied on blunt instruments like muscle enzyme levels, expensive scans, or the age-old “watch and limp” approach.

Enter the OxiDx test. By measuring thiol-oxidised albumin—a protein indicator of oxidative stress—the test offers a window into the unseen wear and tear racehorses endure on the track. The recently published results tracked 34 horses post-race, showing that most peaked in oxidative stress at 48 hours and recovered by day five. But several lagged well beyond seven days, underscoring the need for individualised recovery plans.

“The variability in recovery we observed is critical,” said Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe. “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.”

What sets the OxiDx approach apart is its simplicity. Trainers collect a small blood sample via finger prick before and after a race, bypassing the need for expensive imaging or lab-bound assays. The resulting heat map of oxidative stress gives a daily readout on how a horse’s body is coping—much like a wearable for your equine athlete.

And while today’s announcement centres on horses, the implications reach well beyond the turf. OxiDx’s underlying technology—measuring systemic oxidative stress—has already drawn attention in human health applications, particularly for elite athletes. The company sees high-performance sport, veterinary science, and even chronic disease management as future frontiers.

The commercial pathway is already being laid. A broader clinical utility study is underway to validate the test further, with an Australian launch slated for the second half of calendar 2025. The US market is also in sight, via the company’s Reference Laboratory, flagged in its 28 February ASX update.

There is, of course, a fair bit of biomarker buzz in diagnostics, and a new entrant always faces scepticism—especially in a field long reliant on instinct and observation. But if OxiDx delivers what it claims, the test could be a game-changer for trainers, punters, and horses alike.

For now, PIQ shareholders might quietly trot out a cheer. In a high-stakes industry where performance and health hang in delicate balance, OxiDx could offer a vital tool to ensure champions don’t break down before they hit their stride.


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