A panel of outside experts convened by the FDA will meet on February 14, 2018, to vote on Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (PCRX) supplemental New Drug Application for Exparel as a nerve block for regional analgesia.Exparel, a liposomal bupivacaine formulation, is a long-acting non-opioid local analgesic, and was approved by the FDA for the management of postsurgical pain in October 2011. In March 2015, the FDA had turned down Pacira’s request to approve the use of Exparel in nerve block to provide postsurgical analgesia. Will Exparel be greenlighted for the expanded use in its second attempt? The FDA’s final decision date is set for April 6, 2018.PCRX closed Thursday’s (Jan.25) trading at $38.65, down 0.77%.