Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Resolution of Warning Letter with FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion
The resolution between Pacira and OPDP is summarized below. Pacira is actively working to ensure that its sales force and other promotional channels communicate these points to customers thoroughly and accurately:
- EXPAREL is broadly indicated for administration into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia. Approval was based on pivotal trials conducted in excisional hemorrhoidectomy and bunionectomy surgical models, and thus, the basis for assessment of safety and efficacy was limited to those two procedures.
- Regarding duration of efficacy, in both pivotal trials, EXPAREL demonstrated a significant reduction in pain intensity scores compared to placebo for up to 24 hours. In the hemorrhoidectomy trial, which had a primary endpoint of cumulative pain scores over the first 72 hours, there was minimal to no difference in pain intensity scores between EXPAREL and placebo from 24 to 72 hours; however, there was a cumulative decrease in opioid consumption through 72 hours. The clinical benefit of that reduction was not demonstrated.
As per the
“We are pleased to have reached a mutually acceptable resolution with
the OPDP regarding the matters raised in the warning letter,” said
About Pacira
About EXPAREL®
EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) is indicated for single-dose infiltration into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia. The product combines bupivacaine with DepoFoam, a proven product delivery technology that delivers medication over a desired time period. EXPAREL represents the first and only multivesicular liposome local anesthetic that can be utilized in the peri- or postsurgical setting in the same fashion as current local anesthetics. By utilizing the DepoFoam platform, a single dose of EXPAREL delivers bupivacaine over time, providing significant reductions in cumulative pain scores with a 45% decrease in opioid consumption; the clinical benefit of the opioid reduction was not demonstrated. Additional information is available at www.EXPAREL.com.
Important Safety Information
EXPAREL is contraindicated in obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. EXPAREL has not been studied for use in patients younger than 18 years of age. Non-bupivacaine-based local anesthetics, including lidocaine, may cause an immediate release of bupivacaine from EXPAREL if administered together locally. The administration of EXPAREL may follow the administration of lidocaine after a delay of 20 minutes or more. Other formulations of bupivacaine should not be administered within 96 hours following administration of EXPAREL. Monitoring of cardiovascular and neurological status, as well as vital signs should be performed during and after injection of EXPAREL as with other local anesthetic products. Because amide-type local anesthetics, such as bupivacaine, are metabolized by the liver, EXPAREL should be used cautiously in patients with hepatic disease. Patients with severe hepatic disease, because of their inability to metabolize local anesthetics normally, are at a greater risk of developing toxic plasma concentrations. In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (incidence greater-than or equal to 10%) following EXPAREL administration were nausea, constipation, and vomiting. Please see the full Prescribing Information for more details available at http://www.exparel.com/pdf/EXPAREL_Prescribing_Information.pdf.
Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations,
plans and prospects, including statements about our expected revenues,
and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,”
“plans,” “estimates,” “expects,” and similar expressions, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Source:
Company Contact:
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jessica
Cho, 973-254-3574
or
Media Contact:
Pure
Communications, Inc.
Susan Heins, 864-286-9597