Amarin initiates cardiovascular development strategy

Amarin believes that its lipid-based technology platform for the targeted transport of molecules through the liver or to the brain can be leveraged in a wide range of disease applications, and is hoping to develop a series of products targeting the vascular system, endothelial dysfunction and vascular re-modeling.

London-based Amarin intends to commence a series of clinical trials with its dyslipidemia product AMR 101 (97% pure EPA), the first of which will commence by the end of this year. In addition, it intends to commence investigation of new compounds from its existing development portfolio for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia. Amarin believes that proof of concept with AMR 101 in cardiovascular disease can be established relatively quickly and inexpensively as efficacy is measured by well-defined biochemical endpoints. This will enable rapid progress of effective compounds into the final stages of development, Amarin says.

Rick Stewart, CEO, said: “While neurology remains Amarin’s core focus, the new cardiovascular strategy capitalizes on existing assets which already have an established safety and efficacy profile in Japan. Consequently, this is a logical extension from Amarin’s existing therapeutic base for ultra-pure EPA and its derivatives.

“The expansion of Amarin’s therapeutic reach into diseases with a significantly greater prevalence than neurological disease enhances our development portfolio mix and creates added value from our lipid technology platform.”