National AALAS 2024 -- Intravitreal (IVT) injections are an invasive ocular procedure often used as a delivery method for experimental compounds. In nonhuman primates, post-procedural pain is common and frequently treated with buprenorphine, a safe and effective synthetic opioid. A site-wide change was implemented, incorporating buprenorphine extended release (ER) 10 mg/mL into the existing pain management protocol for IVT injections due to its longer lasting effects. Buprenorphine ER 10 mg/mL has an analgesia length of 48-72 hours. A meta-analysis was conducted comparing the use of standard buprenorphine 0.5 mg/mL USP and buprenorphine ER 10 mg/mL in frequency of painful observations. The goal of this process change was to increase animal welfare by the reduction of animal handling, number of injections and severity of post-procedural pain.

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