SAN DIEGO – Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:), a commercial-stage biotech company, has announced a new partnership with CrossLink Life Sciences, LLC to enhance the distribution of its postoperative pain management solution, ZYNRELEF®. The collaboration, set to unfold in phases over the next year, will incorporate approximately 650 new sales representatives into Heron’s network, focusing initially on regional deployment before escalating to a national scale.
ZYNRELEF® is a non-opioid extended-release solution combining bupivacaine and meloxicam, which has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing postoperative pain in Phase 3 studies. The partnership with CrossLink, a leading orthopedic device distributor in the United States, aims to broaden the accessibility of this analgesic for patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries.
Under the agreement, CrossLink will receive a fixed compensation per vial of ZYNRELEF® sold, contingent on sales growth over a predetermined baseline. The collaboration is expected to kick off with CrossLink spearheading the promotion of ZYNRELEF® for orthopedic applications across the U.S.
Craig Collard, CEO of Heron, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to increase ZYNRELEF® adoption in surgical procedures and enhance patient care. Thomas Fleetwood, CEO of CrossLink, also conveyed enthusiasm for the collaboration, citing the significant impact of ZYNRELEF® on post-operative pain management and the opportunity to make it more widely available.
ZYNRELEF® was first approved by the FDA in May 2021 for use in specific types of surgeries and has since expanded its indications. However, its safety and efficacy in highly vascular surgeries remain unestablished. Notably, Heron has withdrawn ZYNRELEF®’s marketing authorization in the U.K. and E.U. as it has no plans for a commercial launch in these regions.
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