ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – September 2, 2025 – EquiSeq Inc, a biotechnology company developing DNA tests for inherited muscle disease in horses, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 12,398,426, “Methods of Detecting Inherited Myopathies in Horses.” The patent includes claims covering specific genetic mutations that predispose to muscle disease in horses, allowing the design of a rational breeding program to reduce the incidence of equine muscle disease.

The patent, and EquiSeq’s other patent, U.S. Patent Number 16/088,247, “Method of Detecting Inherited Equine Myopathy,” describe the use of DNA testing to identify damaging genetic variants in six different horse genes. The patented technology has been in commercial use since 2017, with thousands of horses tested. The test is sold directly to consumers, including horse owners, breeders, and veterinarians. The technology has been licensed by Generatio GmbH, a company in Germany that provides equine genetic testing for Europe.

DNA testing is a well-established technology that works reliably on all DNA, regardless of the source. In the United States, EquiSeq uses allele-specific PCR, a rapid test that returns results quickly enough for a pre-purchase exam. In Germany, Generatio uses an Illumina BeadArray, a comprehensive test for tens of thousands of variants. Researchers at EquiSeq are preparing to adopt the array technology in the coming years.

In contrast to muscle biopsy, the current “gold standard” for the diagnosis of muscle disease, EquiSeq’s DNA test is noninvasive, requiring only a hair sample. In addition, EquiSeq’s DNA test is predictive, while the muscle biopsy only shows the state of the muscle at the time that the sample was taken. This allows the results of EquiSeq’s DNA test to direct breeding choices in horses, reducing the incidence of muscle disease in future generations.

“Patent issuance is an important milestone for EquiSeq,” said Chief Scientific Officer Paul Szauter. “We are grateful for the thorough scientific review provided by this process, and for the cooperation of the many people in the horse community who provided DNA samples and veterinary records for research. We look forward to developing additional DNA tests to improve horse health.”

About EquiSeq

EquiSeq has developed a panel of DNA tests to predict the development of muscle disease in horses. EquiSeq’s science team has a research program that brings experience in genomics and bioinformatics to the underserved horse industry, producing DNA tests that can be used to reduce the incidence of inherited disease through rational breeding programs.

Contact information: Paul Szauter (Paul@EquiSeq.com), (207) 812-8932. 

Company website: EquiSeq.com