Pacira Pharmaceuticals (PCRX) has entered into a five-year agreement with US-based orthopedic device distributor CrossLink Bioscience to promote and sell EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) for postsurgical pain management following orthopedic procedures.
Under the deal, CrossLink will act as a local agent and also as a lead partner in current collaboration with additional distributors in select markets across the US for EXPAREL.
In April 2013, distributors representing many orthopedic manufacturers with exclusive territory designations participated in a pilot program.
The partnership between the two companies represents an extension of that initial program, aimed at addressing the growing interest in EXPAREL among orthopedic customers.
Pacira president, chief executive officer and chairman Dave Stack said the ability to provide patients with up to 72 hours of non-opioid postsurgical pain control without the need for catheters or external devices -- which can limit mobility and delay the ambulation that we know is critical to the rehabilitation process following orthopedic procedures -- makes EXPAREL an important option for patient care.
"This collaborative effort allows Pacira to partner with several hundred orthopedic distributor representatives who cover select geographies in the United States," Stack added.
As part of the agreement, CrossLink is compensated on a variable cost basis, based on performance in designated hospitals and geography, reported monthly to Pacira.
The deal will also see both the companies add additional orthopedic distributors and/or geographies.
Additionally, both the companies have mutual termination rights under the deal, with Pacira having unilateral termination rights under certain circumstances.
The deal also permits Pacira to end without cause effective 30 September 2016, subject to certain terms and conditions.