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Guinea Pig Studies

Guinea Pigs: Specialized Models for Specific Studies

The guinea pig shares certain specific physiological traits with humans which makes it an indispensable model for select therapeutic areas. BioLegacy leverages guinea pigs for their profound airway hypersensitivity in asthma and allergy models, their predictive value in dermal sensitization studies, and others. We deliver definitive functional and immunological data to de-risk and advance your specialized therapeutic programs.

  • Respiratory & Allergy Models: Evaluation of therapeutics using models of induced asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) with precise functional readouts.
  • Delayed-Contact Hypersensitivity (DCH): Robust, validated models for evaluating the potential for dermal sensitization and the efficacy of anti-inflammatories.
  • Infectious Disease Expertise: Specialized containment and knowledge for running vaccine and therapeutic efficacy studies for specific pathogens like M. tuberculosis.
  • Comprehensive Bioanalytical Support: Fully integrated in-house services for PK/TK, biomarker discovery, histology, and more.
  • AAALAC-Accredited Care: The highest standards of animal welfare and data quality.
Respiratory & Allergic Airway Disease Models

Guinea pigs faithfully recapitulate the human response to allergens and bronchoconstrictors, making them a crucial preclinical model for the assessment of novel respiratory therapeutics. The guinea pig’s human-like airway physiology is indispensable for evaluating asthma, allergy, and COPD. BioLegacy leverages extensively validated guinea pig models to deliver clear, quantitative data on airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, and therapeutic efficacy, providing the pivotal insights your program needs to advance.

  • Allergic Asthma Models: Ovalbumin (OVA) and cockroach antigen sensitization and challenge models.
  • Airway Hyperresponsiveness (AHR) Testing: Precise measurement of bronchoconstriction using whole-body plethysmography.
  • COPD Models: PPE-induced and smoke-induced models for evaluating therapeutics targeting emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Analysis: In-depth cellular and biomarker analysis of BAL fluid.
Dermal Hypersensitivity & Topical Safety

Understanding a compound’s potential to elicit an immunogenic skin response is a critical safety checkpoint, especially for transdermal therapeutics. The guinea pig is the gold-standard model for this assessment, mounting a robust and highly predictive delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response that closely mimics human allergic contact dermatitis. BioLegacy’s expertise in these dermal models provides a definitive evaluation of your compound’s sensitization potential and local tolerance.

  • Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH): Models for assessing immunogenic potential and anti-inflammatory efficacy.
  • Skin Sensitization Testing (GPMT): Classic Guinea Pig Maximization Test for regulatory safety assessment.
  • Primary Dermal Irritation: Validated models to assess local tolerance of topical compounds.
  • Quantitative Histopathology: Expert analysis of inflammatory infiltrates and epidermal changes.
Safety Pharmacology & Cardiovascular Assessment

Assessing a compound’s potential off-target effects on vital organ systems is a critical component of any IND-enabling program. The guinea pig provides a well-characterized and highly sensitive system for key safety pharmacology assessments. BioLegacy leverages guinea pigs to provide definitive data on cardiovascular function, including precise ECG analysis to detect potential liabilities like QT prolongation, delivering critical safety insights required by regulatory agencies.

  • Cardiovascular Safety Screening: In-depth ECG analysis for QT interval prolongation and other arrhythmias.
  • Isolated Heart (Langendorff) Preparations: Ex vivo platform to directly assess a compound's effects on cardiac function.
  • Ileum & Tracheal Smooth Muscle Contraction: Ex vivo assays to evaluate off-target effects on smooth muscle tissue.
  • Support for ICH S7A/B Guideline Studies: A validated model for key components of the safety pharmacology core battery, conducted under GLP guidelines.
True In Vivo Excellence

BioLegacy’s decades of in vivo experience deliver robust data to de-risk your program.

  • GLP and non-GLP studies
  • Hundreds of animal models
  • Facilities to house almost any large or small animal on-site
  • AAALAC-accreditation
  • Rapid study initiation - usually 2 weeks or less!

BioLegacy delivers the trustworthy data you need. Contact us today!