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Exparel + Bupivacaine
Exparel is a liposomal formulation of bupivacaine that provides prolonged local anesthetic effect by slowly releasing bupivacaine from lipid vesicles at the injection site.
Exparel is a liposomal formulation of bupivacaine that provides prolonged local anesthetic effect by slowly releasing bupivacaine from lipid vesicles at the injection site. Used for Infiltration anesthesia for surgical anesthesia, Interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.
At a glance
| Generic name | Exparel + Bupivacaine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| Drug class | Local anesthetic (liposomal formulation) |
| Target | Voltage-gated sodium channels |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Anesthesia / Pain Management |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Bupivacaine is an amide local anesthetic that blocks sodium channels in nerve cell membranes, preventing depolarization and nerve signal transmission. The liposomal encapsulation (DepoFoam technology) allows sustained release of bupivacaine over an extended period (up to 72 hours), providing longer-lasting anesthesia compared to standard bupivacaine formulations.
Approved indications
- Infiltration anesthesia for surgical anesthesia
- Interscalene brachial plexus nerve block
- Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block
- Postsurgical analgesia
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia
Key clinical trials
- Bupivacaine Liposome Plus Bupivacaine or Ropivacaine for Pericapsular Nerve Group Block in Hip Arthroplasty (PENG) (PHASE4)
- Liposomal Bupivacaine With Standard Bupivacaine Versus Dexmedetomidine With Standard Bupivacaine (PHASE3)
- A Study of Bupivacaine Liposome Injection in the Treatment of Pain After Thoracoscopic Surgery (PHASE2)
- Evaluation of Pain Management After Surgery When Using Exparel in the Pediatric Population (PHASE2)
- EXPAREL or Lidocane as Local Anesthetic in Patients Undergoing Pleuroscopy With Pleural Biopsy and Indwelling Pleural Catheter Placement (PHASE2)
- Thoracic Epidural Analgesia or Four-Quadrant Transversus Abdominus Plane Block in Reducing Pain in Patients Undergoing Liver Surgery (PHASE3)
- Efficacy of EXPAREL vs. Bupivacaine (PHASE3)
- Exparel vs. Marcaine ESP Block for Post-cardiac Surgical Pain (PHASE2, PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Exparel + Bupivacaine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Exparel + Bupivacaine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc portfolio CI