What Has Changed?

1. The new implants are pre-sterilized through a gamma irradiation process, eliminating the prep time, inconvenience, and cost incurred by applying ethylene oxide sterilization protocols.
   
2. Standardized Strengths and Sizes:
   • • • • • • To achieve the specific dosage required for each animal, zoos will now select from 6 standard sizes and weights in grams.
             • This may mean combining or rounding up to the nearest available implant size to obtain the desired dose
             • Contact the AZA Reproductive Management Center at contraception@stlzoo.org or 314.646.4595 for advice on how to dose the animals you intend to implant. In your communication, please include the most recent body weight of the animal(s) to be treated. It is also useful to know if the animal has been implanted previously and whether a previous implant is still in the animal. If you leave a voice message, please leave your phone number AND an email address.
   • This adjustment is designed to standardize the production process, ensuring efficiency and the longest possible Beyond-Use Dates (BUDs) for the implants. (The BUD is the date beyond which a compounded medication should no longer be used.) 
     
     
3. Advanced Ordering System: Due to the rigorous rounds of processing—including compounding in our labs, sterility testing, and gamma irradiation—advance planning is essential. The lead time required to make the MGA implants is approximately 6 weeks from the “order-by” date. We have created the chart below to help you plan to meet your individual contraceptive program’s needs. 
   
   Orders for our next batch of MGA implants must be placed by October 1st for delivery the week of November 11th. This is a much longer lead time than you have been used to in the past. Please refer to the chart for additional batch dates to ensure that you meet the necessary ordering deadlines.
    
    
4. Revised Beyond-Use Dates (BUD): Changes to compounding standards made by United States Pharmacopeia (USP) have reduced the BUDs of MGA implants to 45 days*** from the date of compounding, necessitating our batch production timelines. We estimate that you will have approximately 16-18 days on average to use implant before it reaches its Beyond-Use Date (BUD).  
5. Ordering Through Wedgewood: All orders will be processed through Wedgewood Pharmacy, either by calling 866.823.9314 or ordering online at Wedgewood.com. We recommend calling in your first order so we can answer any questions that may arise. If you decide to place your order online, you may need to write multiple prescriptions to combine implant sizes to achieve your desired dose. 
6. Free Expedited Shipping: To accommodate the reduced BUD, we are providing free overnight shipping to ensure that you have the maximum window for usage. 

PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately, due to state regulations, Wedgewood is unable to ship MGA Implants to California and Missouri. We expect to be able to ship to those states in the near future, and we will notify you when that occurs.

We understand that the adjustment to combining strengths represents a shift in how you manage contraceptive needs. Our team is prepared to guide you through these changes and support your efforts in providing the best care for your zoo animals. 

Please review the charts above for detailed pricing, implant strengths and sizes, and mark your calendars with the new order submission deadlines. Remember, MGA implants are back, and with these updates, we're setting the stage for a more efficient and user-friendly experience. 

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to continuing to serve you with excellence. 

***Wedgewood will continue to invest in the additional sterility and stability testing required by USP to extend the BUD of the MGA implants in the future. We will update you when we can offer a longer BUD.