LG Chem is introducing a long-acting analgesic that can manage pain in surgical patients for a longer duration.

LG Chem announced on the 16th that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Asia with Pacira BioSciences (hereinafter Pacira), a U.S. biotech company specializing in pain management pharmaceuticals, for EXPAREL, a non-opioid local anesthetic for surgical use.

EXPAREL is a long-acting drug that applies Pacira’s proprietary extended-release technology. It is reported to provide pain relief for up to 96 hours, longer than conventional local anesthetics. Based on clinical results in surgical patients, it received marketing approval from major regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011 and the European Medicines Agency in 2020. To date, it is estimated that a cumulative total of more than approximately 15 million patients have used EXPAREL to treat postoperative pain. In particular, as there is currently no long-acting local anesthetic for surgical use approved in Korea, EXPAREL is expected to help minimize repeated pain treatments and reduce the use of opioid analgesics, which carry a high risk of side effects such as addiction. LG Chem plans to apply to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for product approval within this year, aiming to launch EXPAREL in Korea next year.

Frank D. Lee, CEO of Pacira BioSciences, said, “We will be able to provide Asian patients with broader access to pain management options that reduce opioid dependence,” adding, “This partnership with LG Chem, which has long provided pain solutions to patients, is expected to significantly advance our company’s growth strategy.”

Hwang In-cheol, Executive Vice President and Head of LG Chem’s Primary Care Business Division, said, “We will ensure the timely launch of EXPAREL, which can manage postoperative pain more effectively, to help patients return to their daily lives more quickly,” and added, “We will continue to introduce innovative products that can offer differentiated treatment experiences to patients and healthcare professionals.”

LG Chem is focusing on expanding its portfolio to offer improved treatment options to patients and healthcare professionals, ranging from inflammation and pain management products such as Synovian, a single-dose osteoarthritis treatment, and Vimovo, a combination of anti-inflammatory analgesic and proton pump inhibitor, to surgery-specific products such as TauroKit Injection (a surgical antimicrobial) and EXPAREL.

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