# FDA Approves Hospira's Lidocaine Hydrochloride for Epidural Use Hospira, Inc. received FDA approval for its lidocaine hydrochloride epidural formulation, expanding the company's anesthetic portfolio and positioning it to capture market share in the regional anesthesia segment. The approval of this generic formulation is expected to increase competition in the epidural anesthetic market while providing healthcare providers with additional sourcing options for this widely-used pain management agent.