Investigation Political Financial February 09, 2026 | 5 min read | Politics

Activist Investor Escalates Pressure on Pacira BioSciences, Demanding Sale Amid Executive Pay Dispute

A major shareholder, DOMA Perpetual Capital Management, has launched an aggressive campaign to force Pacira BioSciences, Inc.—the pharmaceutical company behind the non-opioid pain drug Exparel—into a formal sale process, citing what it calls “excessive” executive compensation and persistent underperformance. DOMA, which owns 6.83% of Pacira’s shares, publicly criticized the company’s governance in a November 2025 letter and, just 50 days later, announced plans to nominate three independent directors to Pacira’s board at the upcoming 2026 annual meetingThis rapid escalation is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of activist investor interventions in the U.S. pharmaceutical sector, where governance battles over executive pay and strategic direction have become increasingly common. Documentary evidence from SEC filings and corporate records confirms DOMA’s stake and its coordinated efforts to influence Pacira’s leadershipAt stake are the interests of Pacira’s shareholders, employees, and patients who rely on Exparel, as well as broader questions about the balance between activist investor influence and long-term corporate stewardship in the healthcare industry.

Key Players
3 entities involved
Bias
Balanced Coverage
Analysis
4 evidence items
Activist Investor Escalates Pressure on Pacira BioSciences, Demanding Sale Amid Executive Pay Dispute

What This Means For You

The confrontation between DOMA Perpetual Capital Management and Pacira BioSciences highlights the growing power of activist investors to reshape the direction of major pharmaceutical companies. With Pacira generating $372 million in annual revenue and Exparel serving as a key non-opioid alternative for pain management, any forced sale or leadership change could impact drug pricing, research priorities, and patient accessThis case underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in executive compensation and board oversight, especially as activist campaigns become more frequent and aggressive. For investors, patients, and policymakers, the outcome will set a precedent for how much influence activist funds can exert over critical healthcare assets.

Full Investigation

Key Insights

  • DOMA Perpetual Capital Management holds a 6.83% stake in Pacira BioSciences, Inc., making it a significant shareholder with leverage over board decisions
  • On November 10, 2025, DOMA sent a public letter to Pacira’s Board, urging a formal sale process and criticizing executive compensation as excessive
  • On December 30, 2025, DOMA escalated its campaign by announcing plans to nominate three independent directors at the 2026 annual meeting, reiterating its demands
  • Timing Pattern: Only 50 days separated DOMA’s initial public letter and its board nomination campaign, indicating a coordinated, rapid escalation
  • Money Trail: Pacira BioSciences reported $372 million in revenue, with Exparel as its primary revenue driver and central to DOMA’s claims of undervaluation
Evidence & Sources (4)
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DOMA Perpetual Capital Management holds a 6.83% ownership stake in Pacira BioSciences, Inc., making it a significant shareholder.

"DOMA Perpetual Capital Management, holding a 6.83% stake in Pacira BioSciences, has publicly criticized the company's executive compensation practices and overall spending."
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DOMA Perpetual Capital Management is an activist investor in Pacira BioSciences, Inc., actively engaging with the company to influence corporate governance and strategic direction.

"DOMA sent a public letter to Pacira's Board, recommending actions including engaging a banker to explore a sale of the business, criticizing excessive stock-based compensation and rising costs."
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Pacira BioSciences, Inc. is the developer, manufacturer, and owner of Exparel, its flagship non-opioid pain management product.

"Best known for Exparel, a non-opioid pain management product. Exparel is the primary revenue driver for Pacira BioSciences."
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DOMA Perpetual Capital Management, as a major shareholder of Pacira, has a financial interest in the performance and valuation of Exparel, Pacira's flagship product.

"The activist investor is urging the board to initiate a formal sale process, citing undervaluation of Pacira's flagship product, Exparel."
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