Amarin Corp Plc (AMRN)

[Pharmacydude]

Here is the article that I was interviewed for. They decided to post it online right away with an email sent to every pharmacist who subscribes to the magazine. I believe they still plan on putting it in the print edition as well.
(In the article the word “paper” is a hyperlink to my paper for anyone to access, doesn’t work in this cut and paste)

“A Canadian pilot study, released last week, found evidence that prescription strength icosapent ethyl (VASCEPA) may reduce inflammation and improve symptoms in symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Conducted by the Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group, the study was presented by Dr. Deepak Bhatt, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, at the National Lipid Association Conference on Dec. 12.

For the pilot, 100 Canadian patients, diagnosed as COVID-19 positive in the preceding three days, were recruited through their family physicians. The patients were randomized to receive VASCEPA or no treatment in an open label study. VASCEPA was given at a dose of eight grams daily for three days and then four grams daily for 11 days.

At the end of 14 days, treatment with VASCEPA led to a 25% reduction in the inflammatory biomarker, high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (CRP). As well, researchers found a 52% reduction in FLU-PRO symptoms for those who took VASCEPA compared to a 24% reduction in the untreated patients. Treatment with VASCEPA was well tolerated with no major side effects.

Physicians involved in the study noted VASCEPA could be useful in treating patients positive for COVID-19 but the investigators stressed that a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is needed to confirm the findings.

“For the vast majority of patients in my practice who are diagnosed with COVID-19 who have mild to moderate symptoms, this could provide a safe and potentially effective approach to consider,” Dr. Gus Meglis, a family physician and member of the steering committee involved in the study, said in a statement.

“These exciting results should be studied in a larger number of patients in a double-blind randomized fashion—and studies of this nature such as PREPARE-IT 1 and PREPARE-IT 2 are currently ongoing with VASCEPA,” added Dr. Subodh Verma, a co-investigator of the study.

The positive results were gratifying for Mark Brady, a community pharmacist at Jean Coutu in Hawkesbury, Ont. Over the past seven years, he’s researched VASCEPA, driven by his personal interest in preventing cardiovascular disease.

“My research led me to believe its benefits come from its anti-inflammatory actions as well as membrane stabilization and restoration of endothelial dysfunction,” Brady said. “A recent outbreak of COVID at a [long-term care] facility my pharmacy services caused many deaths and drove my research into VASCEPA’s ability to reduce the cytokine storm.”

Brady initially wrote a research paper on VASCEPA to explain to his family and friends why they should ask their doctor to prescribe the drug for protection against cardiovascular disease and COVID-19. But he also shared his paper with other medical researchers, including Dr. Bhatt; Dr. Pablo Corral, a lipidologist running a 2,000-patient VASCEPA COVID-19 trial in Argentina; and John F. Thero, president and CEO of Amarin Corp., the drug’s manufacturer.

The response has been supportive and encouraging, said Brady. He received hundreds of emails within a few of hours of posting the paper in a blog, suggesting he make every effort to share information on the treatment.

“

Here is the link but I believe you have to be registered to access: https://www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/pharmacists/news/canadian-pilot-study-of-vascepa-shows-promise-against-covid-19-symptoms-48530?utm_source=EmailMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pharmacy_Newsflash