Scott Braunstein, who has been senior vice president of strategy and corporate development for Pacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PCRX]]) since 2015, is now the company’s chief operating officer. The new role adds oversight of the company’s commercial and medical affairs to Braunstein’s prior responsibilities. Parsippany, NJ-based Pacira also promoted Richard Scranton to chief scientific officer. Scranton was previously vice president of medical health sciences for the company. Pacira’s lead product is a long-acting form of pain drug bupivacaine (Exparel). Used in surgery, the company says its drug reduces the need for opioids to manage post-surgical pain.
