Amarin Corp Plc (AMRN)

[Pharmacydude]

Lem
Let me add a little local colour to the scenario.
18 months ago the Pfizer cardiovascular reps were detailing Eliquis as their only drug. With the pandemic, vaccine awareness was handed to the cardiovascular reps because they had such a small portfolio. Pfizer’s 60 cardiovascular reps (they have many more in other divisions) were worried about their future because in a year Pfizer loses the Canadian patent on Eliquis and they would have nothing to sell and Pfizer doesn’t have any new/big CVD drugs in the near term pipeline.

From the HLS perspective they had the right number of reps to launch the product knowing it would take at least 18 months for government coverage of a new molecule. During this initial 18 months they would not expect significant sales or up take by doctors because they know it’s not covered for most of their patients. The pandemic made it an easier decision to keep a small sales force. Now they are at a crossroads: they either triple their salesforce and incur substantial training and implementation costs to send out new reps with no experience or relationships with docs or they partner like Amarin did with Kowa.
It was a perfect fit for both companies.
That being said, Pfizer has no new or near term cardiovascular drugs to keep their cardiovascular division busy the next couple years once Eliquis patents expire.
Pfizer needs Vascepa one way or another