-- Record-high EXPAREL sales driven by volume growth of 7 percent, marking strongest fourth quarter performance in three years-- BRISBANE, Calif., Jan. 08, 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 reported preliminary, unaudited total revenue of $726.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with $701.0 million for the year ended December 31 ...

Core Insights - The study published in Pain Physician shows that iovera° cryoneurolysis significantly improves functional outcomes for chronic low back pain patients compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) [1][6] - Patients treated with iovera° experienced lower pain scores and improved functional disability over a 12-month period [8] Study Findings - The pilot study involved 30 patients with facet-mediated chronic low back pain, comparing iovera° to RFA [4] - At 180 days, pain scores for iovera° patients were 3.1 compared to 5.4 for RFA patients (p=0.01) [8] - At 360 days, pain scores for iovera° patients were 3.0 compared to 6.1 for RFA patients (p=0.01) [8] - Functional disability, measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), showed iovera° patients scoring 10.1 at 360 days versus 20.6 for RFA patients (p=0.002) [8] - Fewer iovera° patients required additional spine injections after 180 days, with 45.5% needing further treatment compared to 75% of RFA patients [8] - No treatment-related adverse events were reported in either group during the 12-month follow-up [8] Treatment Mechanism - The iovera° system utilizes cryoneurolysis, applying focused cold therapy to targeted nerves to interrupt pain signal transmission [2][8] - Pain relief is typically immediate and can last up to 90 days as the nerve regenerates [2][9] Industry Context - Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and contributes significantly to opioid use [3] - The need for alternative, tissue-sparing approaches like cryoneurolysis is underscored by the potential tissue damage associated with RFA [3] - The FDA recently cleared a new SmartTip for iovera° to allow deeper nerve access for lumbar applications, supporting ongoing clinical evidence expansion [6]

Business Growth - Pacira treated more than 3 million patients per year[4,6,8] - The company is experiencing double-digit compounded annual growth rate in product revenue[4,9] - EXPAREL volume growth in 3Q25 reached 9% year-over-year, marking the highest volume growth in over 3 years[9] - Pacira anticipates product revenue to exceed $1.1 billion by 2030[9] Profitability - Pacira achieved a 5-percentage point gross margin improvement over 2024[4,10] - The company's non-GAAP gross margins are projected to be between 80% and 82%[11,42] Pipeline and Partnerships - Pacira is expanding its clinical pipeline with 5 novel programs in development[4,12] - The company is establishing 5 partnerships, including pipeline and commercial agreements[4,14] Financial Performance - Total revenue for 3Q25 was $180 million[42] - Adjusted EBITDA for 3Q25 was $49 million[42] - The company's cash and investments stand at approximately $246 million[42]

Financial Performance & Strategy - Pacira reported Q2 2025 total revenue of $181 million[42] - The company is transitioning into an innovative biopharmaceutical organization, aiming to lead in musculoskeletal pain and adjacencies[5] - Pacira updated its 2025 total revenue guidance to $730-750 million[42] - Non-GAAP gross margins were 82% in Q2 2025[42], with a new range projected at 78-80%[10] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $54 million[42] - The company has approximately $270 million in cash and investments[41,42] Product & Pipeline Development - Over 3 million patients are treated per year with Pacira's products[4] - EXPAREL's intellectual property is strengthened with two new patents listed in the FDA's Orange Book, providing exclusivity into 2040+[16] - Two registrational studies for ZILRETTA in shoulder OA and iovera° in spasticity are progressing as planned[20] - The Phase 2 ASCEND Part A study for PCRX-201 has surpassed 50% enrollment[22] Market Access & Commercial Growth - Over 40 million commercial lives have access to EXPAREL via separate reimbursement as of Q2 2025[29], with ~100 million total covered lives expected by year end[29] - The company signed a 3rd GPO in Q2 2025, increasing procedural volumes of EXPAREL business under contract[31]

Core Insights - Pacira BioSciences reported solid execution in its corporate, clinical, and commercial initiatives, advancing its 5x30 growth strategy aimed at accelerating topline growth and transitioning into an innovative biopharmaceutical organization [4][5] Financial Highlights - Total revenues for Q2 2025 were $181.1 million, an increase from $178.0 million in Q2 2024 [11] - Net product sales included $142.9 million for EXPAREL, $31.3 million for ZILRETTA, and $5.6 million for iovera° [6] - The company reported a net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to a net income of $18.9 million, or $0.41 per share in Q2 2024 [11] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $54.3 million, down from $62.1 million in Q2 2024 [11] Business Developments - The company surpassed 50% enrollment in its Phase 2 ASCEND study of PCRX-201 for knee osteoarthritis, with completion expected by the end of 2025 [7] - A new $300 million revolving credit facility was established to enhance liquidity and financial flexibility [7] - A co-promotion agreement with Johnson & Johnson MedTech aims to expand ZILRETTA's market reach [7] - Manufacturing efficiencies from large-scale EXPAREL production are expected to improve gross margins and inventory management [7] Legal and Patent Developments - A favorable court ruling resulted in a $28.3 million payment from the Research and Development Foundation [8] - The company secured additional patents for EXPAREL, extending exclusivity through 2041 and 2044 [8] Financial Guidance - The company updated its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $730 million to $750 million, while increasing non-GAAP gross margin guidance to 78-80% [19]

Core Insights - Pacira BioSciences, Inc. announced long-term follow-up data from its Phase 1 clinical trial of PCRX-201, a gene therapy for knee osteoarthritis, showing sustained clinical efficacy for up to three years [1][3][12] - The therapy demonstrated significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and function, with a single injection being well tolerated [1][7] Study Details - The Phase 1 trial involved 72 patients aged 30 to 80, with assessments conducted over 156 weeks using WOMAC and KOOS scores [4][6] - Participants were divided into two cohorts: one receiving varying doses of PCRX-201 and the other receiving a corticosteroid pretreatment [4] Key Findings - No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported, with treatment-related joint effusions occurring in 36% of the corticosteroid-pretreated group and 61% in the non-pretreated group [6][7] - Significant reductions in pain and stiffness were observed, with 51-53% reduction in WOMAC-A pain scores and 38-76% reduction in WOMAC-B stiffness scores [7] - Improvements in KOOS daily living function scores ranged from 26 to 28 points [7] Regulatory Designations - PCRX-201 received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the FDA and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) designation from the European Medicines Agency [8][9][12] - These designations facilitate efficient drug development and potential accelerated approval processes [9] Future Developments - Following promising Phase 1 results, a Phase 2 study (ASCEND study) is currently underway for PCRX-201 [10] - The therapy targets chronic inflammation at the cellular level, aiming to modify the disease rather than just alleviate symptoms [3][11]

Business Growth and Strategy - Pacira is transitioning into an innovative biopharmaceutical organization, aiming to lead in musculoskeletal pain and related areas[6] - The company is focused on accelerating growth in its base business and advancing its pipeline value through strategic partnerships and clinical development[5, 8] - Pacira plans to opportunistically return capital to shareholders, supported by a newly authorized share repurchase program of $300 million[39] EXPAREL - A patent litigation settlement secures EXPAREL's exclusivity until 2039, setting the stage for long-term growth[9, 10, 11] - In 1Q25, EXPAREL average daily sales (ADS) increased by approximately 7% year-over-year[15] - A favorable court ruling eliminates RDF royalty obligation, benefiting EXPAREL gross margins by a low-single-digit percentage[9] Pipeline Development - The acquisition of GQ Bio added a novel platform, preclinical portfolio, and R&D talent[9] - Patient dosing is underway in the Phase 2 ASCEND study of PCRX-201 for knee osteoarthritis (OA)[9] - Phase 3 shoulder OA study progressing for ZILRETTA with topline results expected in 2026[16] Financial Performance and Guidance - Total revenue for 1Q25 was $169 million[40] - Non-GAAP gross margins for 1Q25 reached 81%[40] - Adjusted EBITDA for 1Q25 was $44 million[40] - The company reiterated its 2025 financial guidance, projecting total revenue between $725 million and $765 million and non-GAAP gross margins between 76% and 78%[40]

Core Viewpoint - Pacira BioSciences, Inc. reported strong financial results for Q1 2025, highlighting its commitment to non-opioid pain therapies and the successful execution of its 5x30 strategy, which aims to enhance its market position and drive growth through innovation and strategic acquisitions [4][6][11]. Financial Highlights - Total revenues for Q1 2025 were $168.9 million, a slight increase from $167.1 million in Q1 2024 [6][11]. - Net product sales included $136.5 million for EXPAREL, $23.3 million for ZILRETTA, and $5.1 million for iovera°, with EXPAREL showing a growth from $132.4 million in the same quarter last year [6][11]. - Net income was reported at $4.8 million, or $0.10 per share, compared to $9.0 million, or $0.19 per share in Q1 2024 [6][11]. - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $44.1 million, slightly down from $44.6 million in Q1 2024 [6][11]. Recent Business Developments - The company successfully settled U.S. patent litigation for EXPAREL, securing exclusivity until 2039, which is expected to enhance market share and cash flow [7][11]. - The first patient was dosed in a Phase 2 study for PCRX-201, targeting osteoarthritis of the knee, with topline results expected by the end of 2026 [7][11]. - A favorable court ruling eliminated the royalty obligation on EXPAREL sales to RDF, allowing the company to cease future payments and seek repayment for previously paid royalties [7][11]. - The corporate headquarters was relocated to Brisbane, California, aligning with the company's growth strategy [7][11]. Strategic Initiatives - The company reiterated its full-year 2025 financial guidance, projecting total revenues between $725 million and $765 million, with a non-GAAP gross margin of 76% to 78% [21][11]. - Pacira acquired GQ Bio Therapeutics GmbH to enhance its 5x30 growth strategy, bringing in a novel local delivery platform for genetic medicines [11][37]. - The company is focused on expanding the market for EXPAREL and other products through strategic initiatives and clinical trials [11][40].

PCRX-201 Overview - PCRX-201 is an innovative, locally-administered gene therapy targeting the underlying cause of osteoarthritis (OA)[1, 10] - It offers unprecedented pain relief and durability for at least 2 years from a single injection across all levels of disease severity[11] - Phase 1 trial data showed a 48-65% reduction from baseline pain through 104 weeks[13] - In the Phase 1 trial, over 70% of patients experienced a greater than 50% improvement in pain and stiffness vs baseline at week 16 and 78[15] Clinical Development Plan - The company plans a clinical development pathway including Phase 2 Part A, Phase 2 Part B, Phase 2 Bilateral Dosing, Phase 3 Single Injection, and Phase 3 Extension with repeat dosing, targeting a BLA submission by 2032[17, 19] Phase 2 Study Design - The Phase 2 study is a two-part, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study to assess the safety and tolerability of PCRX-201 in subjects with painful knee OA[20, 22] - Part A will use existing inventory from the Phase 1 trial, while Part B will use a new manufacturing process intended for commercial scale-up[28] - Both parts will pretreat all subjects with a 40 mg intra-articular (IA) dose of methylprednisolone acetate[28, 40, 43] - Part A plans for a maximum of 45 subjects (15 per group), and Part B plans for 90 subjects (30 per group)[32, 39, 42]