Scottish Medicines Consortium Accepts VAZKEPA (icosapent ethyl) to Help Reduce Cardiovascular Risk for Patients in Scotland(1)

-- VAZKEPA (icosapent ethyl) accepted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for restricted use within NHSScotland, as secondary prevention in adult statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk¹ --

-- VAZKEPA already commercially available in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland where NICE recommended its reimbursement and use across the National Health Service (NHS) in July 2022 --

-- Amarin now working with Health Boards across Scotland to secure formulary inclusion and ensure eligible population access to VAZKEPA by end of 2023 --

DUBLIN, Ireland and BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) today announces that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted VAZKEPA (icosapent ethyl) for reimbursement with a Patient Access Scheme* for secondary prevention in patients treated with a stable dose of statins, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels >1.04mmol/L and ≤2.60mmol/L, raised fasting triglycerides (≥1.7mmol/L) and with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) defined as a history of any of the following: acute coronary syndrome (ACS) such as myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina needing hospitalization; coronary or other arterial revascularization procedures; coronary heart disease; ischaemic stroke; or peripheral arterial disease.¹

“The acceptance of icosapent ethyl, an innovative active substance comprising a highly purified omega-3 fatty acid (eicosapentaenoic acid greater or equal to 96%), will provide healthcare professionals in Scotland with an additional treatment option to be considered for eligible patients who are at high risk of a subsequent CV event, such as a second heart attack or stroke. This represents an important step forward in the fight against CVD in Scotland,” said Professor Adrian Brady, Consultant Cardiologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

CVD is a significant issue for patients and HCPs in Scotland.^2-4 While current therapies can help to reduce the risk of a first or recurrent major cardiovascular event, there are still at least 10,000 hospital admissions for heart attacks each year, which equates to 1 every 50 minutes, with heart and circulatory diseases causing nearly 18,000 (28%) deaths annually in Scotland.³ What’s more, CVD costs NHS Scotland around £800 million each year, with a wider estimated cost to the economy of £1.8 billion.^3,4