Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its animal health partner 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 commercialisation of AT-003 in dogs in 2016.

In December 2012, Pacira and Aratana entered into a global licensing agreement for the development and commercialisation of bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension for animal health indications.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the clinical and commercial development of new products that meet the needs of acute care practitioners and their patients.