Amarin Corp Plc (AMRN)

[veteranseabee]

PERSPECTIVE
Robert S. Rosenson
Robert S. Rosenson
In the primary results of the REDUCE-IT study, the reduction in CV events was far more than one might have anticipated based on the magnitude of triglyercide lowering. There were several mechanisms that were postulated, and those require further research.

The exciting aspect of the present analysis is that the investigators evaluated total CV events. The first event is the primary measure of efficacy in clinical trials. But patients are concerned about how many events they will have if they survive the next one. The total burden of CV events is a concept we promulgated about 8 years ago in work with the Medicare population. The REDUCE-IT investigators took this type of approach to CV prevention and showed there is incremental relative and absolute reduction with icosapent ethyl when you take into account second, third and fourth events. This is an appropriate type of analysis to do in a clinical trial because the cost effectiveness of the therapy when considering the total burden of CV events. This can help reduce barriers to medication access for patients. When the total burden of CVD and the cost of all hospitalizations are considered, the costs of novel medications may become more accessible for our patients. This is a very exciting result and an innovative analysis.

Robert S. Rosenson, MD
Director, Metabolic Disorders
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai