Pacira Pharmaceuticals and GeneAlign Announce Partnership to Develop Low-Opioid Pain Management Protocols for Postsurgical Patients at High Risk of Addiction
This hospital-based initiative is currently being rolled out in pilot institutions and includes a GeneAlign genetic test conducted via a quick and painless cheek swab that collects information on 19 genes associated with metabolism, clinical response and addiction risk. The test provides important information regarding the patient’s genetic predisposition to numerous commonly prescribed opioids and other non-opioid drugs relevant to the perioperative setting. Additionally, this comprehensive program provides patients with education about the risks and benefits associated with opioid and non-opioid pain medications, including the potential for opioid addiction. The patient’s attending clinicians will then have access to this information to assist them in the development of individualized postsurgical pain management strategies following evidence-based protocols.
“As personalized medicine becomes increasingly integrated into clinical practice, providers need access to actionable genetic data at the point of care to better understand which drugs to utilize, which drugs to avoid and what opioid or non-opioid alternatives may be best suited for each individual patient,” said
Beyond the unwanted and potentially life-threatening adverse events associated with opioid use, research continues to uncover the connection between their introduction in the hospital setting and the overall societal opioid burden.
“As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage our nation, we are privileged to partner with GeneAlign on an actionable solution to help curb the proliferation of opioid misuse, abuse and addiction that often begins through exposure to these medications in the postsurgical setting,” said
A recent article in the
About Pacira
About GeneAlign
GeneAlign is a therapeutic management company that integrates advanced molecular diagnostics and toxicology testing with expert-guided therapeutic recommendations from licensed medical professionals to provide precision medicine solutions for perioperative medicine. GeneAlign’s pharmacogenetic technologists provide clinically relevant genetic lab testing services on 19 genes associated with the metabolism, response and drug interactions for hundreds of the most commonly-prescribed medications including opioids, NSAIDS and opioid antagonists. GeneAlign’s Medical Directors and PharmDs collaborate with the treating providers to provide the most appropriate and safe perioperative pain management. Substance abuse experts assist in the immediate post-operative period as part of the integrated team.
Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans, outlook and prospects, and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks relating to: the success of our sales and manufacturing efforts in support of the commercialization of EXPAREL; the rate and degree of market acceptance of EXPAREL; the size and growth of the potential markets for EXPAREL and our ability to serve those markets; our plans to expand the use of EXPAREL to additional indications and opportunities, and the timing and success of any related clinical trials; the related timing and success of
- Sun EC, Darnall B, Baker LC, Mackey S. JAMA Intern Med. Published online
July 11, 2016 . doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.3298. Wakefield Research on behalf ofPacira Pharmaceuticals . Opioid Addiction and Dependence After Surgery is Significantly Higher than Previously Known. 2016.
Company Contact:Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Susan Mesco , (973) 451-4030 susan.mesco@pacira.com Media Contact: Coyne Public RelationsAlyssa Schneider , (973) 588-2270 aschneider@coynepr.com