Pacira's EXPAREL Linked to Lower Opioid Use and Healthcare Costs in Shoulder Surgery Study
Event summary
- Pacira BioSciences presented a real-world study at ISPOR 2026 showing EXPAREL use was associated with reduced opioid consumption and healthcare costs in Medicare Advantage patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty.
- The retrospective analysis evaluated over 6,400 opioid-naïve patients from July 2019 to December 2024.
- EXPAREL use was linked to fewer opioid-related adverse events and lower healthcare costs compared to standard analgesia.
- The study was presented at the ISPOR Annual Meeting held May 17–20, 2026, in Philadelphia.
The big picture
Pacira's study results align with the broader healthcare industry's shift toward non-opioid pain management, driven by regulatory and payer pressures to reduce opioid exposure. The findings could strengthen EXPAREL's position in the market, particularly as outpatient surgical procedures increase with an aging population. The strategic focus on real-world evidence supports Pacira's commercial strategy amid growing demand for cost-effective, non-opioid therapies.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Tailwinds
- How the NOPAIN Act's focus on non-opioid pain management may boost EXPAREL's adoption in outpatient settings.
- Market Expansion
- Whether Pacira can leverage these findings to expand EXPAREL's use in other surgical procedures beyond shoulder arthroplasty.
- Competitive Dynamics
- The pace at which competitors develop similar non-opioid pain management solutions that could challenge EXPAREL's market position.
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