The Sinclair Nanopig® is the outcome of 10-12 years of cross breeding and nutritional management to achieve downsizing exceeding 50% of the body weight of the Sinclair (S-1)
Miniature Swine. The original Sinclair (S-1) Miniature Swine lineage, the oldest lineage of miniature swine used in research is no longer produced, but has been substituted by the
Sinclair Nanopig®. The breeding was genotyped based on SNPs and a Genomic Estimated Breeding Value (gEBV) was derived and used to direct the breeding program. Gene editing was never employed to downsized the Sinclair Nanopig®. The nutritional management was necessary as the downsized Sinclair Miniature Swine was so much smaller. The revised feeding regimen is not starving the animals, rather providing adequate nutrition within a desirable body condition while achieving an optimal growth rate. There has been over 9 generations since the onset of the downsizing, the Sinclair Nanopig® is considered a very stable lineage with stable phenotypical presentation. Genetic drifts were a concern during the downsizing process. The Sinclair Nanopig® was closely monitored for dozens of parameters and comparisons between the normal data of the Sinclair Nanopig® and the original Sinclair (S-1) Miniature Swine revealed very few and minor departures that were considered within the normal physiological range. The trademark registered and proper nomenclature is the Sinclair Nanopig®.
The Nanopig is the smallest miniature swine commercially available for biomedical research. The Sinclair Nanopig® is smaller than a beagle dog at sexual maturity, when enrolled in toxicology studies. In fact, when adjusted for sexual maturity, the amount of compound used to dose a Sinclair Nanopig® for an acute and sub-acute toxicology studies will be
significantly less than the dog. The smaller size of the Sinclair Nanopig® is also welcome for non-regulatory research when a smaller miniature swine is desired for space restriction and ease of handling are important.
Download: Age Adjusted Weight Comparison for Toxicology Studies: Miniature Pigs and Beagle Dog
Download: Sinclair Nanopig® Flyer with Comparative Body Weights
Background data is published in the Book of Normals and presented as several conferences. Many CROs also now have a database of their own historical control data in the Nanopig.
Download: Sinclair Nanopig Addendum to the Miniature Swine Book of Normals
Poster: Background Data in the Sinclair Nanopig
Presented at the Society of Toxicology (SOT) 63rd Annual Meeting u0026 ToxExpo, Salt Lake City, UT March 10-14, 2024
Background data is published in the Sinclair BioResources “Book of Normals” and has been presented at several conferences. Many CROs have developed an historical control database for the Nanopig. Sinclair BioResources is continually adding new data to “Book of Normals”. Some clients using the Sinclair Nanopig® are contributing to the expansion of the “Book of Normals” and credit is given to the contributors. Please contact us if you have historical data you would like to share with us and other users.
Download: Sinclair Nanopig® Addendum to the Miniature Swine Book of Normals
Poster: Background Data of the Sinclair Nanopig® Presented at the Society of Toxicology (SOT) 63rd Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, Salt Lake
City, UT March 10-14, 2024
Swine are very reproductively efficient. They reach puberty at an early age, have litters, and can have several litters every year. This makes them an excellent at multiplying and can be used at an earlier age in studies than the dog or NHP. The Sinclair Nanopig® was developed primarily to support toxicology and safety assessment studies as an alternative to dogs and non-human primates. Age- and sex-matched groups are available in large numbers, and typically with short lead times. Contact our customer service team to discuss your specific animal requirements and to receive a quote.
Sinclair Nanopig® cost significantly less than non-human primates and it is comparable to a beagle dog. Contact our customer service team to discuss your specific animal requirements and to receive a quote.
The original Sinclair (S-1) Miniature Swine was a multi-colored animal. The white color was not a dominant color. Currently, 80-85% of the Sinclair Nanopig® is white, light skin so they are very desirable for topical applications studies or other dermal application, such as wound healing. The irritation scoring is not an issue with the Sinclair Nanopig®. In fact, a
dermal irritation study comparing four lineages of miniature swine was conducted and available upon request.
Pigs and humans share many anatomical, physiological, pathological, and biochemical similarities. Therefore, miniature swine models have been steadily gaining popularity as a
non-rodent species for drug development alongside NHPs and dogs over the last two decades. Often pig models are the preferred non-rodent species for various studies.
Availability of the Sinclair Nanopig® is generally better than that of NHPs and they are much easier and cheaper to acquire. Pigs reach sexual and organ maturity at an early age, which facilitate their used in research, improve their availability and favor a smaller body size. Pigs also acclimate well to laboratory environments and are easily trained to participate in study procedures. Therefore, the Sinclair Nanopig® serves as an important preclinical model in its own right, and as potential replacement for canine and NHPs when supply chain challenges impact availability.
Whitepaper: Current Applications of Minipigs in Regulatory Safety Assessment
The FDA, EMA and other regulatory agencies around the world accept preclinical studies performed in pig and miniature pig models, and, at times, may even encourage the use of
pig models when they are a relevant species for the drug being evaluated. The agencies are gradually requiring that the non-rodent species be justified, which is particularly true for large molecules. The Nanopig has been used in many preclinical studies submitted to the FDA and other regulatory agencies. The regulatory agencies are generally agnostic to the breed of miniature swine used in research.
All common routes of administration are possible in the Sinclair Nanopig®, including oral, intravenous, transdermal, transmucosal, ocular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, inhalation,
intranasal. Less common routes of administration such as intrathecal, intrasynovial, intrarectal, and intravaginal, and specialized methodologies such as local drug delivery using
surgical or intervention procedures have also been established in pig models.
Miniature swine are commonly used for the safety and efficacy evaluation of novel devices. The Nanopigs can successfully be implanted with Telemetry Devices, Vascular access ports, buttons, infusion pumps, and automated sampling devices. We collaborate with several suppliers of devices and research equipment, as well as surgical experts. Animals can be instrumented prior to delivery. Contact our scientific support team to discuss your specific needs.
Bioproducts are available from all of the miniature swine lineages produced by Sinclair BioResources. This includes blood products (whole blood, serum, plasma with anticoagulant
of choice), bone marrow aspirates/cells, CSF fluid, synovial fluid, bile, urine, tissues, and whole organs. Contact our customer service team to discuss your specific collection
requirements and receive a quote.
Subcellular fractions including microsomes, S9 fractions, homogenate, Cytocrome P450 Enzymes, and non-CYP recombinant enzymes are available from BioIVT from the Nanopigs
as well as all other miniature swine linages produced by Sinclair Bio Resources. Visit https://bioivt.com/subcellular-fractions/ to learn more.
Download: Bioproducts and In Vitro Studies for Species Selection
Sinclair Bio Resources is happy to assist with validation studies and collaborate on validation projects with those facilities exploring new research applications in the model. Contact our scientific support team to discuss your project further.
Yes, Sinclair Bio Resources feels the sharing of scientific data and discoveries is incredibly important for the continuation of innovation and the advancement of new cures. Sinclair Bio Resources is excited to collaborate with researchers, and offers sponsorship and support opportunities to share new discoveries in the Sinclair Nanopig® (as well as the other swine lineages) at scientific conferences and through webinar events. Contact our marketing team to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Yes, Sinclair Bio Resources developed and instituted the proprietary Behavior Enhancement System™ (BES), an integral approach to miniature swine behavior modification designed to minimize stress and fear responses and make human interaction a positive experience. Because of the integration of the BES program in the production of the Sinclair Nanopig®, these animals are exceptionally calm and easy to work with. Their small size and docile temperament make them very appreciated in the laboratory environment and provide an ergonomic advantage compared to other larger swine. The BES program utilizes target training to acclimate all of the pigs to a variety of situations. Click here to learn more about our BES for the miniature swine. We can also provide customized training and acclimation services specific to your study needs. Contact our customer service team to discuss further.
Yes, Sinclair Nanopig® require a high-fiber (~13%-16%), low-fat diet (~2%-4%) to retain ideal weights. Activity and competition in the production setting uses more calories, therefore, ideal rations in the laboratory may be lower than in the production facility.
Download: Sinclair Nanopig Feeding Guide
It is critical to feed a high-fiber, low-fat diet specifically formulated for miniature swine, to follow the recommended feeding regimen for Nanopigs, and to monitor body condition
scores (BCS). Group versus individual housing, routine activity levels, and use of treats should also be considered. Daily rations can be adjusted (typically +/- 20-50kg) until an ideal
body condition score is achieved. Routine adjustments should be made approximately every two months as the Sinclair Nanopig® grow. The Sinclair lineage is naturally leaner than other laboratory swine breeds. It has a more “athletic” or “feral” shape with lesser muscle mass, and narrower and “angular” back giving the impression of longer limbs. Therefore, it is important to use a body scoring system specifically developed for this lineage.
Whitepaper: Sinclair Nanopig Body Condition Score (BCS) Guide
Piglets can be shipped with the sows, or pregnant sows can be shipped to farrow on site depending on the age of piglets needed. Pregnant sows and nursing sows are available on a limited basis with varying lead times based on demand. When large groups are required, we can schedule synchronized matings upon request. Contact our customer service team to discuss your specific animal requirements and to receive a quote.
Yes, and we encourage that the pigs be socially housed whenever possible. With every delivery we provide a list of which pigs were housed together at our facility and are already
familiar with each other. Pigs are gregarious, but have a strong hierarchical structure, and therefore, maintaining established groups limits fighting that typically occurs when a new
hierarchy must be established after regrouping. Adult males should not be housed with unfamiliar adult males, as they will fight aggressively, particularly after reaching sexual
maturity. However, males that are familiar with each other, can typically remain housed together even as adults. Males in particular, but also the females will have a more
established hierarchy as they get older as they passed sexual maturity. Castrated males will typically be more tolerant to regrouping as a strong hierarchy is tightly linked to sexual
dimorphism.
Yes, our team is happy to provide virtual and on-site training for technical staff on basic behavior and husbandry, operant conditioning, sampling and dosing methods, as well as
more advanced training on scientific applications and study design. Contact our scientific support team to discuss you specific training needs.
Idiopathic seizures have not been observed in the Sinclair Nanopig®. While it is possible for pigs to experience seizures, overall, they are less common in pigs when compared to dogs and other laboratory species.
This has not been observed in the Sinclair Nanopig®. Dippity Pig Syndrome refers to a unique acute dermatitis also called erythema multiforme, though it is debated if this is a
condition unique to erythema multiform in commercial pigs, the Vietnamese Potbelly Pig and the Gottingen Miniature Swine. Cases in the laboratory are rare, but have shown a
potential correlation with environmental factors and stress. A recent study found a potential correlation with viral infection, but suggested the cause is multifactorial. To date,the Dippity Pig Syndrome have never been observed in the Sinclair Nanopig® or other lineages of miniature swine produced by Sinclair BioResources. The absence of any contribution from commercial pigs or Potbelly pigs in the Sinclair lineage genetic make up may be a protective advantage for this specific form of dermatitis.
While Nanopigs can experience emesis or vomiting, they are less prone to it than other laboratory species, especially the dog, due to the anatomy and physiology of the lower
esophageal sphincter. Pigs can be good models for human emesis studies as they are susceptible to the emesis inducing effects of certain cancer drugs, and the also respond to
antiemetic drugs similar to humans. Similarities in the digestive system response and neurophysiology related to vomiting between pigs and humans also make them a valuable
model for studying the vomiting reflex.
Sinclair Bio Resources does not currently have production nor distributors outside of North America. However, on a case-by-case basis we can explore options to supply Nanopigs in Europe and other parts of the world. If you are interested in receiving Nanopigs outside of North America contact our customer service team to discuss options.
While no transgenic Nanopigs have been developed to date, Sinclair Bio Resources can collaborate with Renovate Biosciences to explore opportunities to develop transgenic
models using this lineage, and potentially provide breeding services. Contact our scientific support team or contact Renovate Biosciences to discuss your specific needs and
opportunities available.