EU approves Exparel for post-operative pain in adults.- Pacira BioSciences

Pacira BioSciences announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Exparel as a brachial plexus block or femoral nerve block for treatment of post-operative pain in adults, and as a field block for treatment of somatic post-operative pain from small- to medium-sized surgical wounds in adults. The European Commission approval was based on the results of four pivotal Phase III studies that demonstrated improvements in pain reduction and opioid use. These studies include: Lower Extremity Nerve Block Study: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of Exparel as a femoral nerve block in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Results demonstrated that Exparel resulted in a significant reduction in cumulative pain scores over 72 hours compared to placebo. A higher percentage of patients who received Exparel were pain-free, consumed fewer opioids and reported higher satisfaction with their pain control compared with placebo. Upper Extremity Nerve Block Study: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of Exparel as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty or rotator cuff repair. Results demonstrated that Exparel significantly improved pain control and reduced opioid consumption through 48 hours compared with placebo and a standardized pain management protocol alone. Hard Tissue Infiltration Study: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of Exparel administered via infiltration in patients undergoing bunionectomy. Results demonstrated that Exparel significantly reduced pain and opioid consumption compared with placebo over the first 24 hours following surgery than patients administered placebo. Soft Tissue Infiltration Study: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of Exparel administered via infiltration in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy. Results demonstrated that Exparel significantly reduced pain compared to placebo at all time points, including a 30 percent reduction in the cumulative pain scores at 72 hours. Patients who received Exparel consumed significantly fewer opioids than patients administered placebo.