Miniature Swine in Nonclinical Studies
The miniature swine continues to develop as a viable non-rodent option for nonclinical studies. With the increase of historical data and wider regulatory acceptance, the miniature swine model can support a variety of research areas. Their availability, physiological similarities to humans, and lower cost compared to other non-rodent models makes miniature pigs an advantageous option for nonclinical programs. However, it is essential that scientific rationale is the driving factor when selecting species for your study.
At Altasciences, we are experienced with multiple research lineages of miniature swine, including the Hanford™, Göttingen™, Sinclair™, and Yucatan™. The Sinclair Nanopig™ is the smallest of the produced breeds, and has been further downsized, which can decrease your test article usage.
Applications of the Miniature Swine Model
Altasciences has developed strong expertise in a number of therapeutic areas for the miniature swine, including dermal, metabolic diseases, inflammation, oncology, CNS disorders, ocular diseases, and HIV. Our team of talented veterinary surgeons and experienced pharmacology and toxicology scientists combine their skills in a variety of modalities, molecules, and disease indications, to support in vivo studies that progress the development of your novel drug candidate.
Watch a webinar that explains the miniature swine model selection criteria for toxicology and pharmacology studies.
Consult our preclinical drug development factsheet for more information on the full range of in vivo non-GLP and GLP preclinical evaluation studies at Altasciences.
Our Miniature Swine Expertise
Our preclinical facility in Columbia, Missouri, has one of the largest miniature swine populations in the United States. With 80 custom-designed animal rooms and experience with both small and large molecules, our team can get your study started in six to eight weeks following contract signing. The Columbia site also offers IND- and NDA-enabling toxicology, and safety pharmacology services.
Dosing routes available for miniature swine:
- aural
- dermal (topical)
- intra-articular
- intra-bladder (females only)
- intramuscular
- IV bolus
- IV infusion
- oral (gavage and capsule)
- subcutaneous–injection or surgical implant
- targeted GI sections for infusions/repeat bolus dosing
Explore Therapeutic and Research Areas
Within the context of our miniature swine expertise, we have experience in the following therapeutic and research areas:
Dermal Studies
Altasciences has expertise in dermal toxicity testing, conducting GLP-compliant dermal and transdermal toxicology, and safety pharmacology studies. In addition to toxicology, we support a wide range of drug metabolism/pharmacokinetic (DMPK) and efficacy studies, including wound-healing and inflammatory tests, in the miniature swine—an FDA-recommended model.
Inflammation Studies
Pathophysiological changes associated with inflammation and disease onset can be modeled in laboratory animals by chemical induction, pharmacological intervention, or surgical modification. Altasciences has expanding pharmacology and inflammatory diseases programs, including disease-relevant models of inflammatory joints and osteoarthritis in multiple species. We conduct studies with customized anti-inflammatory drug pharmacodynamic end points to meet your objectives.
Our inflammation services with the miniature swine model include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-transection osteoarthritis
- Wound-healing in normal and diabetic miniature swine
Metabolic Diseases
Pathophysiological and metabolic changes associated with the onset and development of diabetes can be modeled in laboratory animals by chemical induction, genetic intervention, or dietary modification. Our team is very experienced in the area of miniature swine diabetes induction and evaluation of candidate therapeutics. Glucose tolerance, insulin resistance testing, and insulin potency testing are routinely included in studies.
Our metabolic disease services include:
- Relevant animal models
- Spontaneous/Genetic Models:
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes
- Induced Models:
- Specialized diets
- Chemicals
- Surgical
- Type 1 diabetes
Diabetes Research
The diabetic miniature swine is a widely recognized translational model for the evaluation of drugs, nutritional therapies, medical devices, and various therapeutic approaches to the treatment of diabetes and its metabolic disease complications.
At Altasciences, we have expertise in diabetes induction, diabetes maintenance, and conduction of drug or therapeutic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies in the diabetic miniature swine. We offer various types of clamps for your study, including euglycemic, hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic, and Bergmann’s.
Wound Healing
Altasciences has the expertise to provide guidance on your wound-healing program in miniature swine while ensuring that study designs are humane and include analgesic use.
Our wound healing services include:
- Incisional
- Excisional – full thickness or partial thickness
- Ischemic wound
- Burn wound
- Delayed wound healing studies in diabetic miniature swine
- Classic wound healing endpoints in miniature swine models
- Digital measurement of serial wound areas
- Histopathology evaluation of re-epithelization
- Large definitive GLP and small pilot studies
Related Resources
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Educational Video: How Do I Select the Right Species for My Toxicology Program? -
eBook: Scratching the Surface of Nonclinical Dermal Testing -
A Changing Paradigm for Non-rodent Species in Nonclinical Safety Studies
Learn more about our Preclinical services
Click below to explore more of Altasciences’ preclinical solutions.
Therapeutic Areas
Our deep expertise and capabilities in a broad range of therapeutic areas encompasses preclinical and early clinical studies for both small molecules and biologics. We can manage your entire program, as well as provide comprehensive support research services and bioanalytical expertise.