Outpatient Care, Self-Insured Employers Drive Growth Of Non-Opioid Pain Meds

Pacira BioSciences’ two products – Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), indicated for postsurgical analgesia in adults and children over six years, and Iovera, a handheld device that delivers cryoanalgesia, or a freezing of nerves, intended for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty – represent alternatives to opioid therapies. With record numbers of opioid-related deaths in 2020, and increasing evidence suggesting that patients can become addicted, even after using a prescribed opioid as intended, it is not surprising that effective non-opioid pain relief is a goal pursued by a growing number of drug developers.

In May, Heron Therapeutics received FDA approval for Zynrelef (bupivacaine and meloxicam), for the treatment of post-operative pain; the company plans to take on Pacira directly, by pricing Zynrelef at a discount to Exparel. (Also see "Heron Overcomes Two CRLs To Win Zynrelef Approval In Post-Op Pain" - Scrip, 13 May, 2021.) Last February, Durect Corporation received approval for Posimir (bupivacaine solution), for post-surgical pain following arthroscopic subacromial decompression, a common shoulder surgery. (Also see "Keeping Track: Targeted Oncologics Tepmetko, Ukoniq Cleared; Posimir Earns Opioid-Sparing Language" - Pink Sheet, 6 February, 2021