Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) today announced a new analysis
from the VASCEPA/VAZKEPA (icosapent ethyl) cardiovascular outcomes
REDUCE-IT study showing the effectiveness of VASCEPA®/VAZKEPA® in
patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (<12 months before
randomization). This post-hoc analysis showed that icosapent ethyl
(IPE) substantially and significantly reduced the risk of first and
total ischemic events by 37% and 36% respectively in patients with
recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without increasing bleeding,
supporting early initiation of IPE after ACS. The data were
presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 72nd Annual
Scientific Session together with the World Heart Federation’s World
Congress of Cardiology in New Orleans, LA.
“Patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome are at
very high risk of a recurrent event, which can be life threatening,
particularly in the weeks following the index event,” 1 said
Philippe Gabriel Steg, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Hôpital Bichat,
Greater Paris University Hospitals – AP-HP, and professor at
Université Paris -Cité, France. "These results demonstrate that the
addition of icosapent ethyl to the treatment regimen of patients
who have experienced ACS within the last 12 months can
substantially reduce their risk of another cardiovascular event,
(with an absolute risk reduction of 9.3%) and that the earlier a
patient begins treatment with icosapent ethyl after ACS, the
greater the absolute risk reduction for those patients.”
In this post hoc ACS analysis of the landmark REDUCE-IT study,
840 (10.3% of the total trial cohort) patients who experienced
recent ACS, defined as myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable
angina <12 months before randomization were compared to 3,651
patients with ACS ≥12 months before randomization to assess the
efficacy of VASCEPA/VAZKEPA on first and total primary events
endpoints. The absolute risk reduction for first events with IPE
treatment over 5 years for the primary composite endpoint was 9.3%
with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 11. The absolute risk
reduction for first events with IPE treatment in patients with ACS
≥12 months was 4.7% with an NNT of 21. Overall tolerability and
adverse event patterns with IPE and placebo in patients with recent
ACS were consistent with the full study. Bleeding event rates were
no more frequent with IPE than placebo despite extensive use of
dual antiplatelet therapy.
"As we know, the REDUCE-IT trial demonstrated the clear risk
reduction benefits of icosapent ethyl in reducing ischemic events
among patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Nabil
Abadir, MB. CH.B., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medical
Affairs, Amarin. "This data not only underscore the benefit for
patients at risk for a cardiovascular event within 12 months
following ACS, but it also builds on the consistency of data across
sub-populations in REDUCE-IT with demonstrated positive outcomes
for patients, including those with prior MI, prior
revascularization, prior PAD and diabetes.”
Limitations include that REDUCE-IT was not powered for multiple
subgroup analyses, and this was a post hoc defined subset among
post ACS patients.
All analyses highlighted above were funded by Amarin. Dr. Steg
received research funding paid to Fondation Assistance Publique
–Hôpitaux de Paris, France from Amarin for his role as an
investigator on the REDUCE-IT study and personal funding as a
speaker or consultant to Amarin.
About Amarin
Amarin is an innovative pharmaceutical company leading a new
paradigm in cardiovascular disease management. From our scientific
research foundation to our focus on clinical trials, and now our
commercial expansion, we are evolving and growing rapidly. Amarin
has offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey in the United States, Dublin
in Ireland, and Zug in Switzerland as well as commercial partners
and suppliers around the world. We are committed to rethinking
cardiovascular risk through the advancement of scientific
understanding of the impact on society of significant residual risk
that exists beyond traditional therapies, such as statins for
cholesterol management.
About Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the
world. In the United States alone, cardiovascular disease results
in 859,000 deaths per year.2 And the number of deaths in the
United States attributed to cardiovascular disease continues to
rise. In addition, in the United States there are 605,000 new and
200,000 recurrent heart attacks per year (approximately 1 every 40
seconds). Stroke rates are 795,000 per year (approximately 1 every
40 seconds), accounting for 1 of every 19 U.S. deaths. In
aggregate, in the United States alone, there are more than 2.4
million major adverse cardiovascular events per year from
cardiovascular disease or, on average, 1 every 13 seconds.
Controlling bad cholesterol, also known as LDL-C, is one way to
reduce a patient’s risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart
attack, stroke or death. However, even with the achievement of
target LDL-C levels, millions of patients still have significant
and persistent risk of cardiovascular events, especially those
patients with elevated triglycerides. Statin therapy has been shown
to control LDL-C, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular
events by 25-35%.3 Significant cardiovascular risk remains
after statin therapy. People with elevated triglycerides have 35%
more cardiovascular events compared to people with normal (in
range) triglycerides taking statins.4,5,6
About REDUCE-IT®
REDUCE-IT was a global cardiovascular outcomes study designed to
evaluate the effect of VASCEPA in adult patients with LDL-C
controlled to between 41-100 mg/dL (median baseline 75 mg/dL) by
statin therapy and various cardiovascular risk factors including
persistent elevated triglycerides between 135-499 mg/dL (median
baseline 216 mg/dL) and either established cardiovascular disease
(secondary prevention cohort) or diabetes mellitus and at least one
other cardiovascular risk factor (primary prevention cohort).
REDUCE-IT, conducted over seven years and completed in 2018,
followed 8,179 patients at over 400 clinical sites in 11 countries
with the largest number of sites located within the United States.
REDUCE-IT was conducted based on a special protocol assessment
agreement with FDA. The design of the REDUCE-IT study was published
in March 2017 in Clinical Cardiology.7 The primary
results of REDUCE-IT were published in The New England Journal
of Medicine in November 2018.8 The total events results
of REDUCE-IT were published in the Journal of the American
College of Cardiology in March 2019.9 These and other
publications can be found in the R&D section on the company’s
website at www.amarincorp.com.
About
VASCEPA®/VAZKEPA®
(icosapent ethyl) Capsules
VASCEPA capsules are the first prescription
treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
comprised solely of the active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, a
unique form of eicosapentaenoic acid. VASCEPA was launched in the
United States in January 2020 as the first and only drug approved
by the U.S. FDA for treatment of the studied high-risk patients
with persistent cardiovascular risk after statin therapy. VASCEPA
was initially launched in the United States in 2013 based on the
drug’s initial FDA approved indication for use as an adjunct
therapy to diet to reduce triglyceride levels in adult patients
with severe (≥500 mg/dL) hypertriglyceridemia. Since launch,
VASCEPA has been prescribed over 18 million times. VASCEPA is
covered by most major medical insurance plans. In addition to the
United States, icosapent ethyl is approved and sold in Canada,
Lebanon, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe, in March
2021 marketing authorization was granted to icosapent ethyl in the
European Union for the reduction of risk of cardiovascular events
in patients at high cardiovascular risk, under the brand name
VAZKEPA. In April 2021 marketing authorization for VAZKEPA
(icosapent ethyl) was granted in Great Britain. The Great Britain
Marketing Authorization for VAZKEPA applies to England, Scotland
and Wales.
Indications and Limitation of Use (in the United
States)VASCEPA is indicated:
- As an adjunct to maximally
tolerated statin therapy to reduce the risk of myocardial
infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization and unstable angina
requiring hospitalization in adult patients with elevated
triglyceride (TG) levels (≥ 150 mg/dL) and
- established cardiovascular disease
or
- diabetes mellitus and two or more
additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce TG
levels in adult patients with severe (≥ 500 mg/dL)
hypertriglyceridemia.
The effect of VASCEPA on the risk for pancreatitis in patients
with severe hypertriglyceridemia has not been determined.
Important Safety Information
- VASCEPA is contraindicated in
patients with known hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylactic reaction)
to VASCEPA or any of its components.
- VASCEPA was associated with an
increased risk (3% vs 2%) of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
requiring hospitalization in a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was greater in patients
with a previous history of atrial fibrillation or atrial
flutter.
- It is not known whether patients
with allergies to fish and/or shellfish are at an increased risk of
an allergic reaction to VASCEPA. Patients with such allergies
should discontinue VASCEPA if any reactions occur.
- VASCEPA was associated with an
increased risk (12% vs 10%) of bleeding in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial. The incidence of bleeding was greater in
patients receiving concomitant antithrombotic medications, such as
aspirin, clopidogrel or warfarin.
- Common adverse reactions in the
cardiovascular outcomes trial (incidence ≥3% and ≥1% more frequent
than placebo): musculoskeletal pain (4% vs 3%), peripheral edema
(7% vs 5%), constipation (5% vs 4%), gout (4% vs 3%), and atrial
fibrillation (5% vs 4%).
- Common adverse reactions in the
hypertriglyceridemia trials (incidence >1% more frequent
than placebo): arthralgia (2% vs 1%) and oropharyngeal pain (1% vs
0.3%).
- Adverse events may be reported by
calling 1-855-VASCEPA or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
- Patients receiving VASCEPA and
concomitant anticoagulants and/or anti-platelet agents should be
monitored for bleeding.
Key clinical effects of VASCEPA on major adverse cardiovascular
events are included in the Clinical Studies section of the
prescribing information for VASCEPA as set forth below:
Effect of VASCEPA on Time to First
Occurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients
withElevated Triglyceride levels and Other Risk
Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in REDUCE-IT
|
VASCEPA |
Placebo |
VASCEPA vs Placebo |
N =4089n (%) |
IncidenceRate(per
100patientyears) |
N =4090n (%) |
IncidenceRate(per
100patientyears) |
HazardRatio(95% CI) |
Primary composite endpoint |
Cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary
revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina (5-point
MACE) |
705(17.2) |
4.3 |
901(22.0) |
5.7 |
0.75(0.68, 0.83) |
Key secondary composite endpoint |
Cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke (3-point
MACE) |
459(11.2) |
2.7 |
606(14.8) |
3.7 |
0.74(0.65, 0.83) |
Other secondary endpoints |
Fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction |
250(6.1) |
1.5 |
355(8.7) |
2.1 |
0.69(0.58, 0.81) |
Emergent or urgent coronary revascularization |
216(5.3) |
1.3 |
321(7.8) |
1.9 |
0.65(0.55, 0.78) |
Cardiovascular death[1] |
174(4.3) |
1.0 |
213(5.2) |
1.2 |
0.80(0.66, 0.98) |
Hospitalization for unstable angina[2] |
108(2.6) |
0.6 |
157(3.8) |
0.9 |
0.68(0.53, 0.87) |
Fatal or non-fatal stroke |
98(2.4) |
0.6 |
134(3.3) |
0.8 |
0.72(0.55, 0.93) |
[1] Includes adjudicated cardiovascular deaths and deaths of
undetermined causality.[2] Determined to be caused by myocardial
ischemia by invasive/non-invasive testing and requiring emergent
hospitalization. |
FULL U.S. FDA-APPROVED
VASCEPA PRESCRIBING
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND
AT WWW.VASCEPA.COM.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including beliefs about
the world-wide market potential for VASCEPA; expectations regarding
financial metrics and performance such as prescription growth,
revenue growth, operating expenses, inventory purchases, and
managed care coverage for VASCEPA, including the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the disappointing outcome of patent litigation
and the launch of generic competition on these metrics; beliefs
that Amarin is well positioned to deliver on its goals to grow
VASCEPA in the U.S. and beyond; beliefs about patient needs for
VASCEPA; effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Amarin's operations
and on the healthcare industry more broadly, which effects continue
to be fluid; beliefs that Amarin's strategy for reducing the
effects of cardiovascular disease is sound and that Amarin is
efficiently reaching physicians, payors, pharmacists and patients;
plans for Amarin's go-to-market model; the timing and outcome of
regulatory reviews, recommendations and approvals and related
reimbursement decisions and commercial launches in Europe, the
China region and elsewhere; plans for Amarin's expected launch of
VASCEPA directly in major markets in Europe, directly and
indirectly; beliefs about the cardioprotective and other benefits
of VASCEPA; beliefs about the strength of data in market access
dossiers and other reports; expectations for the timing,
effectiveness and outcome of promotional activities, including
patient-oriented campaigns, conference and posted presentations and
education of healthcare professionals; commercial and international
expansion, prescription growth and revenue growth and future
revenue levels, including the contributions of sales
representatives and the new leadership team; beliefs that Amarin's
current resources are sufficient to fund projected operations;
ongoing patent litigation efforts; and the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on all of the forgoing. These forward-looking statements
are not promises or guarantees and involve substantial risks and
uncertainties. Amarin's ability to effectively commercialize
VASCEPA and maintain or grow market share will depend in part on
Amarin’s ability to continue to effectively finance its business,
VASCEPA approval in geographies outside the U.S., efforts of third
parties, Amarin’s ability to create and increase market demand for
VASCEPA through education, marketing and sales activities, to
achieve broad market acceptance of VASCEPA, to receive adequate
levels of reimbursement from third-party payers, to develop and
maintain a consistent source of commercial supply at a competitive
price, to comply with legal and regulatory requirements in
connection with the sale and promotion of VASCEPA and to secure,
maintain and defend its patent protection for VASCEPA. Among the
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described or projected herein include the following: the
possibility that VASCEPA may not receive regulatory approval in the
China region or other geographies on the expected timelines or at
all, the risk that additional generic versions of VASCEPA will
enter the market and that generic versions of VASCEPA will achieve
greater market share and more commercial supply than anticipated,
particularly in light of the recent and disappointing outcome of
Amarin's litigation against two generic drug companies and
subsequent requests for appeal; the risk that the scope and
duration of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact access to
and sales of VASCEPA; the risk that Amarin has overestimated the
market potential for VASCEPA in the U.S., Europe and other
geographies; risks associated with Amarin's expanded enterprise;
uncertainties associated generally with research and development,
clinical trials and related regulatory approvals; the risk that
sales may not meet expectations and related cost may increase
beyond expectations; the risk that patents may be determined to not
be infringed or not be valid in patent litigation and applications
may not result in issued patents sufficient to protect the VASCEPA
franchise. A further list and description of these risks,
uncertainties and other risks associated with an investment in
Amarin can be found in Amarin's filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, including Amarin’s quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed on or about
the date hereof. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date they are made. Amarin undertakes no
obligation to update or revise the information contained in its
forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or circumstances or otherwise. Amarin’s
forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of
significant transactions the company may enter into, such as
mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures or any material
agreements that Amarin may enter into, amend or terminate.
Availability of Other Information About
Amarin
Investors and others should note that Amarin communicates with
its investors and the public using the company website
(www.amarincorp.com), the investor relations website
(investor.amarincorp.com), including but not limited to investor
presentations and investor FAQs, Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The
information that Amarin posts on these channels and websites could
be deemed to be material information. As a result, Amarin
encourages investors, the media, and others interested in Amarin to
review the information that is posted on these channels, including
the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of
channels may be updated from time to time on Amarin’s investor
relations website and may include social media channels. The
contents of Amarin’s website or these channels, or any other
website that may be accessed from its website or these channels,
shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933.
Amarin Contact InformationInvestor
Inquiries:Investor
RelationsAmarin Corporation plcIn
U.S.: +1 (908)
719-1315IR@amarincorp.com (investor
inquiries)
Solebury Troutamarinir@troutgroup.com
Media
Inquiries:CommunicationsAmarin
Corporation plcIn U.S.: +1 (908)
892-2028PR@amarincorp.com (media
inquiries)
©2023 Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited. All rights
reserved. AMARIN, VASCEPA, VAZKEPA and REDUCE-IT names and logos
are trademarks of Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited.
References
-----------------
1 Jernberg T, Hasvold P, Henriksson M, et al. Cardiovascular
risk in post-myocardial infarction patients: Nationwide real world
data demonstrate the importance of a long-term perspective. Eur
Heart J 2015;36:1163–1170.2 American Heart Association. Heart
Disease and Stroke Statistics—2020 Update: A Report From the
American Heart Association. Circulation.
2020;141:e139-e596.3 Ganda OP, Bhatt DL, Mason RP, et al.
Unmet need for adjunctive dyslipidemia therapy in
hypertriglyceridemia management. J Am Coll Cardiol.
2018;72(3):330-343.4 Budoff M. Triglycerides and
triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the causal pathway of
cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardiol.
2016;118:138-145.5 Toth PP, Granowitz C, Hull M, et al. High
triglycerides are associated with increased cardiovascular events,
medical costs, and resource use: A real-world administrative claims
analysis of statin-treated patients with high residual
cardiovascular risk. J Am Heart Assoc.
2018;7(15):e008740.6 Nordestgaard BG. Triglyceride-rich
lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease - New
insights from epidemiology, genetics, and biology. Circ Res.
2016;118:547-563.7 Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Brinton E, et al., on
behalf of the REDUCE-IT Investigators. Rationale and Design of
REDUCE‐IT: Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent
Ethyl–Intervention Trial. Clin Cardiol.
2017;40:138-148.8 Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, et al., on
behalf of the REDUCE-IT Investigators. Cardiovascular Risk
Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for
Hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med.
2019;380:11-22.9 Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, et al., on
behalf of the REDUCE-IT investigators. Effects of Icosapent Ethyl
on Total Ischemic Events: From REDUCE-IT. J Am Coll Cardiol.
2019;73:2791-2802.
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