Major Pharmaceutical Acquisition Strengthens Non-Opioid Pain Treatment Portfolio .

The pharmaceutical market for non-opioid pain management is undergoing significant consolidation. Viatris announced plans to acquire Pacira BioSciences for $1.65 billion, adding 2 established treatments to its portfolio: Exparel, a long-acting postoperative analgesic, and Zilretta, an extended-release corticosteroid injection for knee osteoarthritis. The acquisition highlights growing commercial interest in reducing opioid exposure following surgery and expanding nonsurgical pain-management options. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026.