Pacira BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) announced findings from a real-world study showing that use of its EXPAREL pain medication was associated with reduced opioid consumption and healthcare costs in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty.

The retrospective analysis examined more than 6,400 opioid-naïve Medicare Advantage patients who underwent outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty between July 2019 and December 2024. The study compared outcomes between patients receiving EXPAREL, a bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension, and those receiving standard-of-care analgesia.

According to the company, patients who received EXPAREL showed lower opioid use, fewer opioid-related adverse events, and reduced healthcare costs over 90 days following surgery compared to the standard treatment group. The findings were presented at the ISPOR 2026 Annual Meeting held May 17-20 in Philadelphia.

"EXPAREL use was associated with lower opioid use, fewer opioid-related adverse events, and lower healthcare costs compared with standard analgesia," said Brendan Teehan, Chief Commercial Officer at Pacira, according to the company's statement.

The study used data from Optum Clinformatics and evaluated healthcare costs, opioid intake, and opioid-related adverse events. As a retrospective observational analysis, the study identifies associations and may be subject to limitations inherent in claims-based research, the company noted.

EXPAREL is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged 6 years and older, and postsurgical regional analgesia via specific nerve blocks in adults. The medication combines bupivacaine with multivesicular liposomes designed to deliver medication over time.