JL, I don’t dispute your claim that EPA/AA ratios are the elephant in the room. You have been dead right on so many matters surrounding Vascepa I generally accept your opinion as gospel.
Having read through all the other opinions as to why Amarin isn’t currently touting this ratio I find some of them compelling. Especially about not giving FDA decision problems with appropriate markers, and IR’s response to KG about prioritizing their sNDA submittal along pre-established ideas of using trigs as markers. Certainly the study results can support that perspective, even if it’s a red herring.
To this discussion I would add that, until the court dramas are resolved surrounding DS competition, they don’ t want to give DS a chance to appear like an acceptable alternative to V. If ITC and FDA can’t get esterified EPA alternatives off the market, then the potential market for V could take a sizable hit if it’s all about the EPA blood levels. And given the obvious reluctance on the FDA and ITC to act, as well as the unusual delay by the court to make a ruling, I think JT and crew are not willing to tout the EPA/AA ratio as the biggest factor in the success of the trial. At least not yet. Hopefully that day is coming.
It may also be the case that commercial labs aren’t currently set up to test for this marker yet - maybe something to do with insurance coverage?
In other news, I was notified today that my refill of V is on back order. My Walgreens in San Francisco is out of stock - something that seems to be happening more often these days. I’m not complaining... I take it as a good sign.
