The following is a summary submitted with the application. It will be updated when the student’s abstract/thesis is received.
The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the bioavailability and efficacy of a novel sustained release formulation of the NSAID meloxicam for provision of longer lasting analgesia in sheep.
The first part of the study will involve collection of blood and interstitial fluid at multiple time-points for analysis of plasma concentration of meloxicam following subcutaneous administration of the sustained release formulation of meloxicam (formulated by Australian Custom Pharmaceuticals).
The second part of the trial will involve establishing a model of pain and inflammation in sheep. Oil of turpentine, which provides a mild inflammatory stimulus, will be injected into the front leg of sheep. The sustained release meloxicam will be subcutaneously injected into a treatment group of sheep. There will also be a control group that does not receive any form of analgesia. The animals’ response to pain and inflammation in the treatment group will be compared objectively to that of the control group at multiple time-points by assessing degree of lameness, and sensitivity and skin temperature of the turpentine injection site in all sheep. Blood samples will also be collected from sheep in the treatment group at the same multiple time-points for analysis of plasma concentration of meloxicam. This will allow correlation between drug concentration and response to the pain/inflammatory stimulus.
The first expected outcome of the proposed research project is the establishment of a pharmacokinetic profile of a novel sustained release formulation of meloxicam. The second expected outcome of the proposed research project is the understanding of efficacy of this novel sustained release formulation of meloxicam. It is hypothesised that a ‘once-off’ treatment with the sustained release formulation of meloxicam will result in extended time the drug is systemically present in the sheep and therefore extended analgesia. The resulting outcomes are anticipated to aid the wool industry through adding to knowledge on longer lasting analgesia and potentially offering an option for enhancing current practice in terms of pain relief in sheep.