DePuy Synthes has signed an exclusive agreement in the US between DePuy Synthes Sales and Pacira Pharmaceuticals to co-promote Exparel, a long-lasting, non-opioid, local analgesic administered at the orthopaedic surgical site.
The agreement allows DePuy Synthes to promote Exparel across its joint reconstruction, spine, sports medicine, and trauma businesses to help with postsurgical patient pain.
While opioids are typically been used for the management of orthopaedic postsurgical pain, Exparel is designed to provide targeted, non-opioid pain control by working at the site of surgery, allowing for long-lasting pain relief. Reduced pain could allow the opportunity for earlier weight bearing and mobilisation immediately following surgery, and earlier discharge.
DePuy Synthes is expected to begin co-promoting Exparel in early 2017.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Exparel for administration into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia in a variety of surgeries.
