Positive Phase II Study of Pacira's EXPAREL(TM) (DepoBupivacaine) in Total Knee Arthroplasty Presented at International College of Surgeons Worl...( New Sustained-Release Analgesic Signi...),Health

New Sustained-Release Analgesic Significantly Reduces Postop Pain, Opioid Use, and Reduces Opioid Related Adverse Events Compared to Gold Standard Pain Medication

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A Phase II dose escalation study of a single intraoperative administration of EXPAREL(TM) (DepoBupivacaine) in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, or TKA, showed that the novel, sustained-release analgesic effectively and safely controlled moderate-to-severe postoperative pain for over 72 hours, it was reported today in a poster at the Biennial World Congress of the International College of Surgeons in Vienna, Austria. Commenting on the results, Kenneth W. Bramlett, MD, Orthopedic Department, West Alabama Research in Birmingham, Alabama concluded EXPAREL significantly reduced postoperative pain, decreased the use of opioids (therefore lowering associated side effects), and allowed some patients to avoid the use of opioids altogether.

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EXPAREL, a proprietary product from Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a novel long-acting, sustained-release formulation of bupivacaine HCL, a local anesthetic widely used for treating postoperative pain.

Dr. Bramlett said, "EXPAREL effectively controlled moderate to severe pain for more than 72 hours, with better relief achieved with higher doses and a dose-dependent effect in both analgesia and reduction in opioid rescue." He pointed out the clinical importance of the study outcomes noting that EXPAREL efficacy was statistically significant against bupivacaine, the gold standard of local anesthetics, rather than simply placebo, concluding, "EXPAREL may provide safe and effective, prolonged pain relief and an opioid-sparing alternative to currently available local analgesics."