Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  PATOU GARY
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/02/2011		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [PCRX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O MPM ASSET MANAGEMENT, 601 GATEWAY BLVD., SUITE 350		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Medical Officer
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 09/02/2020 Common Stock 59,042 $ 1.61 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (2) 09/02/2020 Common Stock 59,042 $ 1.61 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (3) 12/29/2020 Common Stock 42,368 $ 5.49 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
PATOU GARY
C/O MPM ASSET MANAGEMENT
601 GATEWAY BLVD., SUITE 350
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080		       Chief Medical Officer  

Signatures

/s/ Gary Patou 02/01/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The option vests as to 50% of the option shares on September 2, 2010 and the remaining 50% of the option shares vests equally monthly over the next 24 months.The option shares become exercisable when vested.
(2) 25% of the option shares vest on September 2, 2011 and the remaining 75% of the option shares shall vest monthly over the next 36 months. The option shares become exercisable when vested.
(3) 25% of the option shares vest on December 29, 2011 and the remaining 75% of the option shares shall vest monthly over the next 36 months. The option shares become exercisable when vested.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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