Testing on pigs may reduce drug failure rates

Jul 25, 2017
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Pigs have body systems more like humans than mice do, researchers say

By Kaitlynn Anderson

Farms.com

RGtimeline/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

Pigs could assist in putting only the most successful drugs on pharmacy shelves, thanks to Penn State University researchers.

With immune systems and gut bacterial profiles similar to humans, pigs can be used to test treatments for diseases that are linked to high-calorie diets.

Mice, which are often used to test drugs, do not always react to the treatments in the same way that humans would, according to Jairam K.P. Vanamala, associate professor at Penn State.

"Seven out of ten deaths in the United States are due to chronic conditions," Vanamala said in a university release on Thursday.

Despite the prevalence of disease, drugs in the marketplace still have a high failure rate, added the associate professor.

By testing treatments on pigs, researchers hope that drug failure rates for humans will decline.

"Mice models will continue to be important to study under certain conditions," Vanamala said in the release. "But, what we found is that the pig model has both a microbiome that is closer to the human microbiome and the intestinal physiology is, also, similar to humans."

The findings were published in the Cancer Prevention Research Journal.

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.