Animal Health Partner, Aratana Therapeutics, Announces Positive Pivotal Results for Controlling Postsurgical Pain in Dogs

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

announced today that Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.

shared positive results from its pivotal field effectiveness study of AT-003, the company's bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension licensed from Pacira, for managing postsurgical pain in dogs. The randomized, blinded, multicenter pivotal study in dogs undergoing knee surgery demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain evaluation compared to placebo at each of the 24-hour intervals up to 72 hours following surgery (P<0.05). Based on current timelines for the FDA approval process, Aratana anticipates beginning commercialization of AT-003 in dogs in 2016. In December 2012, Pacira and Aratana entered into a global licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension for animal health indications.