Replies to post #328471 on Amarin Corp Plc (AMRN)

[eightisenough]

rat-always think in other party's shoes, why should they spend billions of $ if they are eating ammrn's lunch with a inferior product???

Amrn cannot beat a co. with a product that doesn't have the benefits of cardiac reduction and plaque reduction, yet the co. should be the under managed amrn?

8

[couldbebetter]

Ratna1, Several points: GSK does not benefit from the sale of generic
Lovaza which is really benefiting from taking sales away from everyone
else because insurance companies pay out the least amount of money for
a generic Lovaza scrip. Does not matter to them that it has no proven
health benefit. They do not care! What should be done is the FDA should
step up to correct this problem because it is, without a doubt, costing
human lives. My opinion is that if AMRN were owned by a BP with some
clout at the FDA...such as a Pfizer or a JNJ...Perhaps then the "issue"
would be looked into by the FDA. This is and always has been a problem
for AMRN, one for which they have not solved. Someday, maybe if and
when AMRN is owned by BP the FDA will take serious action, but until then
I expect nothing from the FDA or AMRN to find a solution.

A very sad and pathetic situation for all concerned, especially CVD
patients who should be getting Vascepa but instead are provided with
worthless garbage instead.

[HinduKush]

There are nuances to this excellent idea that are worth mulling over.
(1) Yes, it is true that Lovaza is already partially nibbling at Vascepa's lunch. But, this has occurred where mostly gen IPE supply ran out and Vascepa substitution has defaulted to the least expensive "alternative" in third party payor/pharmacy policy -Lovaza. There is also a deep historical base of ever-reliable knowledge deprived prescribers stuck in the ice age of developmental therapeutics, who blissfully commit murder (perhaps manslaughter) by Rx. It will take Time, ruthless Guideline enforcement and more than the average dose of shaming to elicit change here.
(2) It may be true that the FDA has an open ear for a PFE or JNJ but it is also the case that GSK has a vast team of representatives who have established access to the ear of physicians already. The same may be said of PFE JNJ Novartis etc...However, targeting their own Lovaza prescribers to upgrade to Son of Lovaza may be a good selling strategy (coupled with the knowledge of why this matters to patients).
(3) In the end, for prescribing habits to change the majority of physicians must be convinced of two things categorically and scientifically: DHA is detrimental and EPA is incrementally beneficial. That time is nigh as we will see from the ACC presentations this month. The time is also pressing when a review of this half century's most significant cardiovascular achievements (by 3 cardiology grandees) cannot blatantly and shamefully ignore the immense cardiovascular achievements of Vascepa and REDUCE-IT.
Icosapent Ethyl either as Vascepa or as a generic or as a derivative improved product will save millions of lives and prevents countless more strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, but it will take a legal system that doesn't destroy the incentives for innovation and trial, as well as an equitable access to that medication in whichever country of the world.
HK
Reference:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMp2033115?articleTools=true