Pacira Biosciences Shares Rise After Upgrade and Collaboration Announcement

Pacira Biosciences shares rise after an upgrade from Truist to "Buy" from "Hold," with a raised price target of $30 from $28. The company also announces a strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Medtech to expand Zilretta promotional efforts. Additionally, Pacira BioSciences announces a workforce reduction and unveils three-year clinical data for its gene therapy, PCRX-201, in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Pacira Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) saw its shares rise on July 2, 2025, following an upgrade from Truist to "Buy" from "Hold," with a raised price target of $30 from $28. The positive analyst sentiment was accompanied by the company's strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to expand promotional efforts for its ZILRETTA® treatment [1].

The collaboration, announced on July 22, 2025, aims to significantly enhance the market reach of ZILRETTA, an extended-release treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain. Pacira's CEO, Frank D. Lee, stated that the partnership aligns with the company's 5x30 strategy, which focuses on leveraging innovative collaborations to drive growth and improve patient outcomes [1].

The agreement will see Johnson & Johnson MedTech's early intervention sales force co-promote ZILRETTA to existing and new customers, expanding access to the treatment. This move is expected to extend ZILRETTA's reach beyond orthopedic practices into additional physician specialties, such as sports medicine, pain management, and rheumatology [1].

Additionally, Pacira BioSciences announced a workforce reduction and unveiled three-year clinical data for its gene therapy, PCRX-201, in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The company has been advancing the development of PCRX-201, a locally administered gene therapy with the potential to treat large prevalent diseases like osteoarthritis [1].

The stock market's positive reaction to these developments underscores investor confidence in Pacira's strategic initiatives and the potential of its innovative treatments. The company's focus on non-opioid pain therapies and strategic collaborations is likely to continue driving its growth and market presence.

References:
[1] https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/pacira-biosciences-announces-strategic-collaboration-to-significantly-expand-zilretta-promotional-efforts