A novel long-acting local anesthetic – HTX-011 (ZYNRELEF™) for postoperative pain control

Introduction Pain following most surgical procedures is expected. However, the treatment and management of postoperative surgical pain have remained challenging. The use of opioid therapy has become increasingly controversial given the limited therapeutic window of these drugs, the adverse side effects, and the potential for abuse. A multimodal approach to the treatment of postoperative pain has been shown to improve pain outcomes after surgery and improve patient satisfaction. Here, we examine a new formulation of bupivacaine and meloxicam extended-release solution HTX-011 (ZYNRELEF®) and its efficacy in postoperative pain control.Areas covered HTX-011 exists as an extended-release polymer that controls the release of the active ingredients over 72 hours. A systematic approach was taken to review PubMed (Medline) for prospective and retrospective studies related to the use of HTX-011 for the management of postoperative pain.Expert opinion HTX-011 represents a new tool to help modulate postoperative pain. Although multimodal analgesia has been effective in managing postoperative pain, direct surgical infiltration with local anesthetics has had limited efficacy due to their short duration of action. The HTX-011 formulation provides a long-acting local anesthetic at the surgical site, which provides a longer period of analgesia while maintaining a favorable safety profile.