On September 15, 2021 Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCRX), the industry leader in its commitment to non-opioid pain management and regenerative health solutions, reported preliminary unaudited net product sales. EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) net product sales increased 15 percent to $41.4 million for the month of August 2021, compared with $36.1 million for the prior year (Press release, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, SEP 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234587752]). Net product sales of iovera° increased 13 percent to $0.9 million for the month of August 2021, compared with $0.8 million for the prior year. EXPAREL average daily sales for the month of August 2021 were 109 percent of August 2020. The company reports average daily growth rates for EXPAREL to account for differences in the number of selling days per reporting period. EXPAREL selling days were 22 in August 2021 and 21 in August 2020.
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"We continue to solidify our leadership position in opioid-sparing pain management with EXPAREL now having treated more than nine million patients since launch with penetration increasing across all target market segments," said Dave Stack, chairman and chief executive officer of Pacira BioSciences. "EXPAREL utilization continues to significantly outpace the recovery of the elective surgery market, which is facing additional pandemic-related challenges this summer with regional surges in delta variant cases, staffing shortages, and surgical fatigue from care teams addressing significant procedure backlogs. We expect these variables to subside and the fourth quarter to reflect improving market dynamics."
"From a competitive standpoint, we have not experienced impact from new market entrants and EXPAREL remains extremely well positioned given its broad efficacy label that spans infiltration, field blocks and brachial plexus nerve block. In addition, a pristine safety profile and proven ability to reliably facilitate surgical migration to outpatient sites of care continue to be hallmarks of EXPAREL adoption across pediatric and adult settings. Looking ahead, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our five-year objectives and deliver topline annual growth in the high teens with operating margins that exceed 50 percent by the end of our planning period," continued Mr. Stack.
The company’s net product sales were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to the significant postponement or suspension in the scheduling of elective surgical procedures resulting from public health guidance and government directives. Elective surgery restrictions began to lift on a state-by-state basis in April 2020, allowing EXPAREL sales to return to year-over-year growth in June 2020. However, while many restrictions have since eased and COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available and administered to the general public, it is still unclear how long it will take the elective surgery market to normalize, or if restrictions on elective procedures will recur due to COVID-19 variant strains or otherwise.
To provide greater transparency, the company is reporting monthly intra-quarter unaudited net product sales until it has gained enough visibility around the impacts of COVID-19. The company is also providing weekly EXPAREL utilization and elective surgery data within its investor presentation, which is accessible at investor.pacira.com. The financial information included in this press release is preliminary, unaudited, and subject to adjustment. It does not present all information necessary for an understanding of the company’s financial results for the third quarter or full year 2021.