Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc. PCRX announced encouraging new data from a study conducted on its lead drug Exparel by the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine.
We note that Exparel is a liposome injection of bupivacaine indicated for single-dose administration into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia.
The University has analyzed the impact of Exparel in managing postsurgical pain following total knee replacement surgery. The study compared two matched cohorts of 134 patients who received either an Exparel based-regimen or the standard of care (continuous nerve block with ropivacaine and/or local infiltration with different combinations of ketorolac, ropivacaine, epinephrine and morphine sulfate).
Data from the study showed improvements in postoperative mobility and length of hospital stay associated with Exparel, which in turn resulted in notable reductions in cost of care.
The release of new data on Exparel was encouraging. We remind investors that Pacira suffered a setback last month when the FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) in response to the company’s supplemental new drug application for Exparel. Pacira was seeking to expand the label of its lead product in the U.S. in femoral nerve block in total knee arthroplasty.
We also note that Exparel is Pacira’s only approved product, thereby making the company solely dependent on it for growth. Hence, we expect investor focus on further updates from the CRL as of now.
Pacira currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include Mallinckrodt plc MNK, ArQule, Inc. ARQL and Valeant Pharmaceuticals VRX. All three sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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