Pacira BioSciences (PCRX Quick QuotePCRX - Free Report) announced an exclusive agreement with Molteni Farmaceutici to distribute and commercialize Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) in the EU and the United Kingdom. Molteni is an Italian specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on pain management, oncology supportive care and hospital-based treatments. Through the arrangement, Molteni will leverage its longstanding leadership in pain management and extensive distribution network across Europe to expand access to Exparel across key European markets.

Exparel is Pacira’s long-acting local analgesic for postsurgical pain management. It is indicated to produce postsurgical local analgesia via infiltration in patients aged six years and older and postsurgical regional analgesia via an interscalene brachial plexus block, a sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa and an adductor canal block in adults. The product combines bupivacaine with multivesicular liposomes, which enable the prolonged release of the local anesthetic. During the first half of 2026, Exparel generated $291.1 million in net product sales, up 4% year over year.

PCRX’s Exparel Deal With Molteni Expands European Reach

Under the agreement, Molteni will hold exclusive rights to distribute and commercialize Exparel across the licensed territories. Pacira will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, a supply price and royalties on future commercial sales from Molteni in licensed territories. Pacira will continue manufacturing the product, while Molteni will lead regulatory, market-access and commercialization activities across the licensed markets.

Year to date, PCRX shares have lost 3.2% against the industry’s 2.2% growth.

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The transaction supports Pacira’s growth strategy, which includes expanding international commercial reach through strategic partnerships. Working with an established regional specialist allows Pacira to pursue broader market access without building a substantial European commercial and regulatory infrastructure on its own. The deal also provides Pacira with multiple potential revenue streams through the upfront payment, product supply and sales-based royalties, while allowing it to retain manufacturing activities and participation in Exparel’s long-term economics.

The agreement is also strategically relevant as Exparel remains Pacira’s largest commercial product and a key source of recurring revenues. Expanding the franchise beyond the United States can provide an additional avenue for growth while spreading commercialization investments across markets. Molteni’s experience in pain management and its established European presence should help support market access and launch execution in the licensed countries.

Molteni plans to launch Exparel sequentially in Italy, Germany, Austria and Poland and pursue approval in Switzerland, with the first commercial sale expected in 2027. For Molteni, the partnership adds a differentiated non-opioid postsurgical pain therapy to its portfolio and supports its international growth strategy.

PCRX Advances Zilretta and PCRX-201 to Broaden Pain Portfolio

Beyond Exparel, Pacira markets Zilretta (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension), an extended-release intra-articular therapy indicated for the management of osteoarthritis pain of the knee. Zilretta generated $59.4 million in net product sales in the first half of 2026, up 9% year over year. Its microsphere-based formulation is designed to provide extended pain relief following intra-articular administration.

Pacira is pursuing a potential label expansion for Zilretta in a registrational phase III study evaluating it for shoulder osteoarthritis, with top-line results expected by the end of 2026. The company is also advancing PCRX-201 (enekinragene inzadenovec), a locally administered gene therapy for knee osteoarthritis, in the phase II ASCEND study. Part A enrollment was completed in June 2026, while Part B enrollment is underway, with top-line Part A data expected by year-end. PCRX-201 is designed to increase production of the anti-inflammatory protein interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, or IL-1Ra, in the knee joint.

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Price and Consensus

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Quote

PCRX’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Pacira currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY Quick QuoteALNY - Free Report) , currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and AC Immune (ACIU Quick QuoteACIU - Free Report) and Aldeyra Therapeutics (ALDX Quick QuoteALDX - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Over the past 60 days, estimates for Alnylam’s 2026 earnings per share have decreased from $8.67 to $8.63. Over the same period, earnings estimates for 2027 have increased from $11.96 to $12.04. ALNY shares have plunged 44.7% year to date.

Alnylam’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, with the average surprise being 27.58%.

Over the past 60 days, estimates for AC Immune’s 2026 loss per share have narrowed from 84 cents to 60 cents. Over the same period, earnings estimates for 2027 remained unchanged at 17 cents. ACIU shares have lost 14% year to date.

AC Immune’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 33.25%.

Over the past 60 days, loss per share estimates for Aldeyra Therapeutics have narrowed from 43 cents to 39 cents for 2026. Over the same period, estimates for 2027 loss per share have narrowed from 22 cents to 16 cents. ALDX shares have plunged 82.2% year to date.

Aldeyra Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 29.25%.