Amarin’s Vazkepa Recommended in UK NICE Final Draft Guidance for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Raised Triglycerides

June 10, 2022—The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced it has published final draft guidance which recommends icosapent ethyl (Vazkepa/Vascepa; Amarin Corporation) for reducing the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in adults who have raised levels of triglycerides. NICE expects to publish its final guidance on icosapent ethyl in July 2022.

According to NICE, the guidance would allow approximately 425,000 people to benefit from the first licensed treatment that reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) who are taking a statin and who have raised levels of triglycerides. Icosapent ethyl has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by more than a quarter compared with placebo in patients with raised triglycerides who have LDL-C levels controlled by statins, and who have cardiovascular disease, noted NICE.

NHS England estimates that between 25% and 35% of patients receiving statin therapy have elevated triglycerides. Until now, there have been no medicines for people at risk of cardiovascular events who have raised levels of triglycerides despite having statins with or without ezetimibe, advised the NICE press release.

NICE recommends icosapent ethyl for adults who have cardiovascular disease with controlled LDL-C levels taking a statin, who remain at residual high risk of cardiovascular events and have raised triglycerides.

Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, commented in the press release, “Icosapent ethyl is the first licensed treatment of its kind for people who are at risk of heart attacks and strokes despite well-controlled LDL cholesterol because they have raised blood fats. And although lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, can help to reduce their risk, these may not work for everyone.

“We have worked closely with the company to identify the population most likely to gain the greatest benefit from icosapent ethyl, striking a balance between effectiveness and the best use of public funding, delivering maximum value to the taxpayer.”