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Liposome bupivacaine
Liposome bupivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic that uses liposomal encapsulation to extend the duration of bupivacaine's nerve-blocking effects.
Liposome bupivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic that uses liposomal encapsulation to extend the duration of bupivacaine's nerve-blocking effects. Used for Infiltration anesthesia and nerve block in surgical procedures, Postoperative analgesia.
At a glance
| Generic name | Liposome bupivacaine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Exparel, Bupivacaine Liposome, Injectable Suspension, bupivacaine |
| Sponsor | Catherine Vandepitte, M.D. |
| 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 the initiation and propagation of action potentials. By encapsulating bupivacaine in liposomes, the formulation provides sustained release of the active drug, extending anesthesia duration from hours to up to 72 hours, reducing the need for repeated dosing or opioid supplementation.
Approved indications
- Infiltration anesthesia for surgical procedures
- Interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder surgery
- Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for abdominal surgery
- Postoperative analgesia
Common side effects
- Injection site reactions (pain, erythema)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
Key clinical trials
- EOIFP Block Versus OSTAP Block for Upper Abdominal Surgery (NA)
- The Efficacy and Safety of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Relieving Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Surgery (NA)
- The Efficacy and Safety of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Relieving Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynecologic Oncology (NA)
- The Efficacy and Safety of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Relieving Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Surgery (NA)
- Effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block on Postoperative Pain Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery (NA)
- 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)
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:
- Liposome bupivacaine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Liposome bupivacaine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Catherine Vandepitte, M.D. portfolio CI