Pacira Announces Exclusive Agreement with Molteni Farmaceutici to Commercialize Exparel in the EU & UK

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Molteni Farmaceutici to expand access to opioid-sparing postsurgical pain management across European markets. Through this partnership, Molteni Farmaceutici will receive exclusive rights to distribute and commercialize Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), Pacira’s long-acting, local analgesic for postsurgical pain management, within the licensed territories.

“We are excited to announce another strategic partnership that advances our 5×30 growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to expanding patient access to best-practice opioid-sparing postsurgical pain management. With Molteni Farmaceutici’s longstanding leadership in pain management and extensive distribution network across Europe, they are ideally positioned to unlock Exparel’s full potential in key European markets.” – Frank D. Lee, chief executive officer of Pacira BioSciences.

“This agreement is highly complementary with Molteni’s strategic priorities, and represents an important step in Molteni’s international growth and expansion strategy, while adding an innovative and differentiated medicine to our portfolio. We believe Exparel represents a compelling opportunity to address the significant unmet need for effective postsurgical pain management across Europe. We look forward to bringing this important treatment to more patients and healthcare providers across the region.” – Gianluca Corbinelli, chief executive officer at Molteni Farmaceutici.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pacira will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, a supply price, and royalties on future commercial sales by Molteni Farmaceutici in licensed territories. Pacira will manufacture Exparel. Molteni Farmaceutici will lead regulatory, market access, and commercialization activities across the licensed territories, leveraging its established leadership and proven track record in pain management. Molteni Farmaceutici plans to launch Exparel sequentially, beginning with Italy, Germany, Austria, and Poland, and pursue approval in Switzerland. The first commercial sale is expected in 2027.

This partnership reflects the companies’ shared commitment to improving postsurgical pain management by combining Pacira’s differentiated product with Molteni Farmaceutici’s strong commercial execution capabilities and deep understanding of local European markets.

Locust Walk acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Pacira in the transaction.