Oh my HDG! I believe you are correct!!
It does appear that the Board is engaging in discussion more and more removed from reality!
On October 25, 2016, Amarin announced the introduction of a smaller 0.5 g capsule size. This was a wonderful welcome to health care professionals as there have been some patients expressing concerns in swallowing the 1g sized capsule.
Since then I routinely show my eligible patients both sizes and allow them to choose.
With the introduction of 0.5 g size for those having challenges in swallowing larger sized pills, taking 4 capsules twice daily with meals has not been a concern.
Many of my patients have had family members undergo chemotherapy with daunting side effects to provide them the chance to spend a little more precious time with their loved ones.
When they hear the stroke, heart attack plus death benefits of Vascepa they are more than willing to take 4 or 8 capsules daily of a medication with relatively minuscule side effects compared to the oncology agents and such astounding benefits! I am pleasantly surprised how the spouses are so resolute in ensuring compliance with V. They certainly care about their loved ones and when they hear prevention or heart attack, stroke and death, the resolve is immediate!
We are referring to patients with increased CV risk who may have been recently discharged from hospital for a stent or vascular procedure or Type 2 Diabetics with increased CV Risk who know of family members or friends who have suffered CV events.
V is a medication which saves lives and there has been no medication since Statins that have achieved such robust CV benefits!
The fact that V is derived from and carefully processed from “nature” adds another positive to patients perception and acceptance.
The major challenge has been to educate patients on the differences between V and DS.
The elegant research by Preston Mason makes the task easier and so does the ADA critical update to SOC in March, 2019.
The ADA SOC clearly articulates this difference “it should be noted that data are lacking with other omega-3 fatty acids, and results of the REDUCE-IT trial should not be extrapolated to other products.”
