Bioequivalence in dogs of a meloxicam formulation administered as a transmucosal oral mist with an orally administered pioneer suspension product

Comparative pharmacokinetics of meloxicam oil suspension in pigs at different dosages following intramuscular administration

This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary safety of self-developed meloxicam (MEL) oil suspension and determine the comparative pharmacokinetics of it at 0.8 and 2mg/kg body weight (b.w.) dosages in pigs following a single intramuscular administration. Six rabbits were used for the study of preliminary safety and six healthy pigs were used for pharmacokinetics study by a crossover design in two periods. The muscle irritation results showed that both of the MEL oil suspension and the conventional injection had no significant changes at the dosage of 0.4 mg/kg b.w.. However, at the dosage of 2 mg/kg b.w., both of the self-developed MEL oil suspension and the MEL conventional injection showed mild irritation to muscle. Plasma concentrations of MEL were measured by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The MEL plasma concentrations were quantified up to 30 h and 72 h after intramuscular administration at the low- and high-dosage, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) between different dosages in pharmacokinetic parameters of t_1/2λz, C_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-μ, MRT, and V_d. The C_max values of MEL were 1.92 ± 0.34 μg/ml and 3.03 ± 1.25 μg/ml at dosages of 0.8 and 2 mg/kg b.w. while the t_max values were 3.25 ± 1.04 h and 4.00 ± 1.26 h, respectively. The pharmacokinetics results of self-developed MEL oil suspension demonstrated that the retention time of it in pigs was prolonged, showing the sustained-release effect. Therefore, Oil suspension was an ideal new drug loading form of MEL.

Preliminary bioequivalence of an oral integrating film formulation containing meloxicam with a suspension formulation in beagle dogs

The oral disintegrating film (ODF) has advantages over suspension and tablet. These include convenience of administration, patient compliance, and accurate dosing. We evaluated the bioequivalence between the ODF and the meloxicam suspension by using a crossover design with a 3-week washout period. Six healthy male beagle dogs were randomized to receive both formulations of meloxicam, 2 mg. Plasma meloxicam concentrations were measured at the same times. From the start until maximum concentration, the initial absorption of the ODF meloxicam formulation was more rapid (2.08 ± 1.56 hr) as compared to the suspension (3.33 ± 1.03 hr). Mean elimination half-lives were 28.77 ± 4.01 and 32.85 ± 9.79 hr for the ODF and the suspension, respectively. Bioequivalence of the ODF was confirmed, based on the relative ratios of geometric mean concentrations (and 90% confidence intervals within the range of 80%-125%) for a maximum concentration of 101.05% (88.59-115.25), for the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) to the last sampling time of 96.07% (87.06-115.25), and for AUC to infinity of 92.65% (86.76-98.94). The meloxicam ODF may be used as an alternative to suspension formulations in the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases and painful musculoskeletal disorders.

Sedative and physiologic effects of tiletamine–zolazepam following buccal administration in cats

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe the sedative and some physiological effects of tiletamine–zolazepam following buccal administration (BA) in cats.

Methods

Seven healthy spayed European shorthair cats (three males, four females) were studied twice in this randomized, blinded, crossover study. Each cat received two doses of tiletamine–zolazepam by BA: the low-dose (LD) group consisted of 5 mg/kg of each drug, and the high-dose (HD) group consisted of 7.5 mg/kg of each. Baseline systolic blood pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and a sedation score were recorded prior to administration of each treatment. The same variables plus the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) were recorded at predefined intervals for the next 2 h.

Results

All cats completed the study. No retching or vomiting were observed. Hypersalivation was observed in 0/7 and 3/7 for LD and HD groups, respectively ( P = 0.2). There were significant changes in scores over time for posture, response to clippers and response to manual restraint for both groups, without differences between groups. RR, HR and SAP changed significantly over time. SAP and RR were significantly lower for the HD than for the LD group. No values for hemoglobin saturation <95% were observed.

Conclusions and relevance

BA of tiletamine–zolazepam at the doses studied here is a simple and effective method for chemical restraint in cats, where the LD group had a lower impact on SAP and RR than the HD group.

An appraisal of innovative meloxicam mucoadhesive films for periodontal postsurgical pain control: A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial of effectiveness

Background and Objective:

Transmucosal analgesic delivery is a promising approach to periodontal postoperative pain management. The purpose of this clinical trial is to appraise the effectiveness of transmucosal drug delivery system with meloxicam films and to identify its minimum effective dosage via this route after periodontal flap surgery.

Materials and Methods:

The analgesic mucoadhesive films were formulated using meloxicam and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose polymer by solvent casting method. The sample size consisted of 60 chronic periodontitis patients who require periodontal flap surgery. The subjects were randomized using lottery method into four groups (Group A - 45 mg; B - 30 mg; C - 20 mg; D - 10 mg meloxicam per film). After periodontal flap surgery, the respective meloxicam mucoadhesive films were placed over the surgical site and were removed on 4^th day of postsurgery. The primary outcome measure was postsurgical pain level and recorded at 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 24^th, and 48^th h using a 0–10 mm visual analog scale with markings from 0 = no pain to 10 = extreme pain.

Results:

The postoperative pain control observed in Groups A and B was found to be effective, and the patient comfort level was very satisfactory. Whereas in Group C, it was found to be high in the first 3 h postsurgically, after which adequate pain relief was seen. Group D exhibited inadequate pain relief. No adverse reactions were noted after applying the film in any of the groups.

Conclusion:

Transmucosal delivery of meloxicam was found to be effective and safe in postsurgical pain control of periodontal flap surgery. The minimum effective dosage via this route for meloxicam was found to be with 30 mg mucoadhesive films.

Multicenter randomized prospective clinical evaluation of meloxicam administered via transmucosal oral spray in client-owned dogs

The clinical safety and efficacy of a transmucosal oral spray (TMOS) formulation of meloxicam was evaluated for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. A total of 280 client-owned dogs were enrolled at fourteen veterinary clinics: there were 187 dogs in the meloxicam TMOS group and 93 in the placebo control group. Dogs received placebo or treatment spray once daily for twenty-eight days. Improvement in signs of osteoarthritis was measured using client-specific outcome measures (CSOM) made at days 14 and 28 and veterinary assessments of lameness and pain on palpation made at day 28. A significantly higher number of dogs in the meloxicam TMOS group were treatment successes at 28 days (72.6%) compared with the placebo group (46.9%), based on CSOM scores. Total CSOM scores were significantly lower in the meloxicam TMOS-treated group compared with the placebo group at both 14 and 28 days. Differences between treatment groups were not observed in veterinary assessments. Gastrointestinal effects of meloxicam were observed in some animals. Meloxicam TMOS was found to be safe and effective in dogs for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

Target animal safety study of meloxicam administered via transmucosal oral spray (Promist(®) technology) for 6 months in dogs

This study evaluated the safety of meloxicam administered via transmucosal oral spray (TMOS) at 1, 2, 3 and 5 times the maximum proposed dose for 6 months in dogs. After baseline assessments, 40 Beagles (20 M, 20 F) were randomized to gender-balanced groups administered either water or meloxicam TMOS at 1, 2, 3 and 5 times the maximum proposed dose once daily for 26 weeks. Dogs were subjected to daily food consumption measurements and clinical and dose site observations. Periodic evaluations were made of body weight, physical examination, clinical pathology, urinalysis, buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) and gastroduodenal endoscopy. At study completion, all dogs were subjected to gross necropsy. Histopathology was performed on tissues from dogs in groups 0X and 5X and from selected tissues in other dose groups. Clinical signs of previously reported NSAID-associated gastrointestinal upset were noted with higher frequency in meloxicam-dosed animals than in controls. Despite the presence of statistically significant effects on some clinicopathological variables, no toxicologically relevant dose-associated effects were determined on these or on food consumption, dose site observations, body weight, physical examination, urinalysis, BMBT, endoscopic examination or gross and histopathological examination of necropsy tissues.