Pacira BioSciences Partners with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to Expand ZILRETTA Promotional Efforts

Pacira BioSciences has announced a strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to expand the promotional efforts of its ZILRETTA treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain. The partnership is expected to increase sales calls and extend patient access across the US, leveraging Johnson & Johnson MedTech's early intervention sales force. This agreement aligns with Pacira's 5x30 strategy of driving growth through targeted collaborations.

Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) has announced a strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to significantly expand the promotional efforts of its ZILRETTA treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain. The partnership is expected to increase sales calls and extend patient access across the United States, leveraging Johnson & Johnson MedTech's early intervention sales force.

ZILRETTA, an extended-release intra-articular therapy, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2017 for the management of OA knee pain. The treatment employs proprietary microsphere technology to provide extended pain relief, with clinical trials showing significant pain reduction for up to 12 weeks [1].

The collaboration aligns with Pacira's 5x30 strategy, which aims to drive growth through targeted collaborations. Frank D. Lee, CEO of Pacira BioSciences, stated, "This partnership embodies our 5x30 strategy of leveraging innovative, targeted collaborations that drive growth, enhance our commercial presence, and improve the patient journey with safe, effective non-opioid treatments" [2].

By partnering with Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Pacira aims to reach a larger portion of the seven million intra-articular knee injections administered annually in the U.S. The expanded promotional effort will include co-promotion by Johnson & Johnson MedTech's early intervention sales force, which currently promotes hyaluronic acid injections for osteoarthritis knee pain. This collaboration will extend the reach of ZILRETTA beyond orthopedic practices into additional physician specialties, including sports medicine, pain management, and rheumatology.

The agreement is expected to enhance patient access to ZILRETTA, a treatment that offers a unique mechanism of action and long-lasting benefits for managing osteoarthritis knee pain. Pacira BioSciences continues to deliver innovative, non-opioid pain therapies, transforming the lives of patients through its three commercial-stage treatments: EXPAREL®, ZILRETTA®, and iovera® [2].

References:
[1] https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-announces-strategic-agreement-with-pacira-biosciences-to-expand-early-intervention-offering-for-osteoarthritis-of-the-knee
[2] https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9498131/pacira-biosciences-announces-strategic-collaboration-to-significantly-expand-zilretta-promotional-efforts