Findings presented at ISPOR 2026 showed lower opioid consumption, reduced healthcare costs, and fewer opioid-related adverse events associated with EXPAREL use

BRISBANE, Calif., May 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCRX), the industry leader in its commitment to deliver innovative, non-opioid pain therapies to transform the lives of patients, today announced findings from a real-world study evaluating outcomes associated with the use of EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) following outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in Medicare Advantage patients. The study was presented at ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research 2026 Annual Meeting that was held May 17–20, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.

The retrospective analysis assessed more than 6,400 opioid-naïve Medicare Advantage patients undergoing outpatient TSA and compared outcomes between those receiving EXPAREL and those receiving standard-of-care analgesia. Data was analyzed from Optum Clinformatics® from July 2019 to December 2024. As a retrospective observational analysis, the study identifies associations and may be subject to the limitations inherent in claims-based research. The study evaluated healthcare costs, opioid intake, and opioid-related adverse events over 90 days following surgery.

These findings come at a time of increasing national focus on expanding access to non-opioid pain management options, including through policies such as the NOPAIN Act, which aims to improve reimbursement among the Medicare population for non-opioid therapies in outpatient settings. Together, these efforts underscore the importance of evidence-based approaches that may help reduce opioid exposure and overall healthcare burden in appropriate postsurgical settings.