Efficacy of intranasal flunixin meglumine for pain mitigation in piglets using a novel drug delivery device

• Grant number: 24/16602-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa
• Grantee: Cecília Archangelo Ferreira de Melo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/02797-0 - EFFICACY OF INTRANASAL FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE FOR PAIN MITIGATION IN PIGLETS USING A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

In the United States, over 100 million piglets undergo painful procedures, such as tail docking and castration, without the use of analgesics or anesthetics. With no FDA-approved pain relief medications available, there is an urgent need for a safe, effective, and practical method for large-scale pain management. Our research team, linked to the Global Production Animal Welfare Laboratory (GPAW) at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at North Carolina State University (NCSU), has developed an innovative, needleless, and cost-effective intranasal drug delivery system for newborn piglets undergoing surgical procedures. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal flunixin meglumine (INF) for mitigating pain and inflammation in piglets using our novel drug delivery device. The study will be conducted by North Carolina State University and will involve a total of 15 litters (60 female piglets and 60 male piglets). The piglets will be included and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: INF-Sham (Sham processing + intranasal flunixin), S-Sham (Sham processing + control), INF-Proc (Surgical processing + intranasal flunixin), and S-Proc (Surgical processing + control). The efficacy of INF in alleviating acute pain in piglets will be assessed through behavioral, physiological, and pharmacodynamic evaluations. It is expected that piglets receiving INF will exhibit fewer pain behaviors and minimal physiological responses to painful stimuli, thereby improving overall animal welfare on the farm.