- Application under evaluation
- CHMP opinion
- European Commission decision
Overview
On 5 October 2023, the European Commission withdrew the marketing authorisation for Zynrelef (bupivacaine / meloxicam) in the European Union (EU). The withdrawal was at the request of the marketing authorisation holder, Heron Therapeutics, B.V., which notified the European Commission of its decision not to market the product in the EU for commercial reasons.
Zynrelef was granted marketing authorisation in the EU on 24 September 2020 for the treatment of somatic postoperative pain from small- to medium-sized surgical wounds in adults.
The European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) for Zynrelef is updated to indicate that the marketing authorisation is no longer valid.
Zynrelef is a prolonged-release solution that is applied to the wound during surgery before the wound is closed. Prolonged-release means that the active substances are released slowly over several hours after application.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription and it should be used in a setting (such as a hospital) where trained staff and equipment are available to treat patients who get side effects involving the heart or central nervous system.
For more information about using Zynrelef, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Bupivacaine is a local anaesthetic which temporarily numbs the area to which it has been applied by blocking pain signals to the brain. Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), reduces pain and inflammation and strengthens the effect of bupivacaine.
In the first study involving patients who had surgery to remove a bunion, the pain score in patients treated with Zynrelef was 323 compared with 445 for patients receiving placebo (a dummy treatment) and 393 for patients receiving bupivacaine (standard treatment). In the second study involving patients who had surgery to repair a hernia, the pain score was 269 with Zynrelef compared with 351 for patients receiving placebo and 342 for patients receiving bupivacaine. In both these studies Zynrelef had some effect in reducing the use of opioid pain medication after surgery.
The most common side effect with Zynrelef (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) is dizziness.
Zynrelef should not be used in patients with hypersensitivity (allergy) to the active substances or to any amide-type local anaesthetic or an NSAID including acetylsalicylic acid (also known as aspirin). The medicine should also not be used in women during the last 3 months of pregnancy, in patients who have undergone certain heart surgeries or who have severe heart failure (when the heart does not pump as well as it should), poor liver function or severe kidney failure (inability of the kidneys to work properly) that is not being treated with dialysis (to remove unwanted fluids and substances from the blood).
For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Zynrelef, see the package leaflet.
Zynrelef has been shown to provide effective pain relief from small to medium-sized wounds after surgery. Its effect on reducing the need for opioid pain relief was considered modest but clinically significant. The medicine’s side effects are similar to those of bupivacaine alone and are considered manageable. The European Medicines Agency therefore decided that Zynrelef’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.
Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Zynrelef have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.
As for all medicines, data on the use of Zynrelef are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with the medicine are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.
Zynrelef received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 24 September 2020.
Product information
This medicine’s product information is available in all official EU languages.
Select 'available languages' to access the language you need.
Product information documents contain:
- summary of product characteristics (annex I);
- manufacturing authorisation holder responsible for batch release (annex IIA);
- conditions of the marketing authorisation (annex IIB);
- labelling (annex IIIA);
- package leaflet (annex IIIB).
Product details
- Name of medicine
- Zynrelef
- Active substance
- bupivacaine
- meloxicam
- International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name
- bupivacaine
- meloxicam
- Therapeutic area (MeSH)
- Pain, Postoperative
- Anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code
- N01B
Pharmacotherapeutic group
AnestheticsTherapeutic indication
Zynrelef is indicated for treatment of somatic postoperative pain from small- to medium-sized surgical wounds in adults (see section 5.1).