Amarin Surges on Positive VASCEPA Trial Data
New analyses from the REDUCE-IT trial show a 9% reduction in hospitalizations, bolstering the drug's profile amid ongoing generic competition.
Amarin Corporation (NASDAQ: AMRN) saw its shares climb over 3% on higher-than-average trading volume after presenting compelling new analyses from its landmark REDUCE-IT trial. The data, unveiled at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025, demonstrated that its flagship drug, VASCEPA (icosapent ethyl), led to a 9% reduction in total hospitalizations and significantly lowered cardiovascular disease risk in certain high-risk patient groups.
The findings provide a crucial clinical boost for Amarin, a company navigating a difficult period of generic competition for VASCEPA in the United States. The new post-hoc analyses highlighted the drug's effectiveness in complex patient populations, including those with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome. For patients with impaired kidney function within this group, VASCEPA showed a notable 44% relative risk reduction for major adverse cardiovascular events.
"The REDUCE-IT data continue to yield important insights into the clinical utility of VASCEPA/VAZKEPA," said Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, Director of Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, in a statement. "These new analyses reinforce the robustness of the original findings and highlight the potential of icosapent ethyl to address complex conditions."
This positive clinical news comes as Amarin intensifies its focus on the European market, where the drug is marketed as VAZKEPA and retains longer patent protection. The company has been grappling with a steep decline in U.S. revenue since losing patent exclusivity in 2020, which has erased more than 95% of its market value over the past few years.
Further supporting its European strategy, the 2025 ESC/EAS Dyslipidemia Guideline Focused Update reaffirmed high-dose icosapent ethyl as a Class IIA recommended therapy for high-risk patients with elevated triglycerides despite statin therapy. This continued endorsement from key European cardiology societies is critical for driving adoption and reimbursement on the continent.
While the new data reinforces VASCEPA's strong clinical profile, Amarin still faces the significant headwind of generic erosion in its largest market. Investors are watching closely to see if the robust scientific evidence can translate into sustained commercial momentum in Europe and support the company's ongoing legal efforts to defend its intellectual property in the U.S.