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File this under “Not every legal brief is eye-glazing.”

Two months ago, Pacira Biosciences (PCRX) took the highly unusual step of filing a libel lawsuit against a medical journal, its editor, and the authors of several published papers, arguing the articles were based on “faulty scientific research” and as a result, its only medicine was portrayed as ineffective.

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As we reported at the time, the drug maker alleged the papers published in February in Anesthesiology reflected a “bias” against its Exparel painkiller and “disparaged” the drug, which is used after surgeries. Consequently, customers have either canceled contracts, declined to purchase the drug, which is not an opioid, or are considering removing it from hospital formularies.

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