This is the feedback I got from a close friend - Cardiologist
The
American College of Cardiology Conference in ongoing in New Orleans…I
get daily updates on late breaking clinical trials, new proposed
guidelines, etc.
Vascepa is fish oil…pricey at that $3.04 per capsule. We use fish oil
in treating people with extremely elevated high triglycerides. Vascepa
was an “add-on” to patients already receiving a statin (cholesterol
lowering medication). I don’t have the study
design to review. I would need to know how they defined “relative
benefits of Vascepa usage grew over time…is this a dose dependent
reduction in benefits? The 30% reduction in events is significant….how
significant??? And since there are no head to head
trials presently with other fish oils….how likely is it that it will be
perceived as superior and docs rush out to prescribe it…Lovaza was
similiarly touted when it came on the market several years ago and it
pretty much fizzled out.
I don’t think it is a big deal…just good awareness at this point. We’ll see how Amarin markets this drug.