title: Icosapent ethyl: a review of its use in severe hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa®) is a high-purity ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that is de-esterified to EPA following oral administration. Both EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that have been associated with triglyceride (TG)-lowering. However, DHA has been associated with increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Icosapent ethyl contains ≥96 % of the EPA ethyl ester, does not contain DHA, and is approved in the USA for use as an adjunct to diet to lower TG levels in adult patients with severe (≥500 mg/dL [≥5.65 mmol/L]) hypertriglyceridemia. In a pivotal phase III trial, oral icosapent ethyl 4 g/day significantly decreased the placebo-corrected median TG levels by 33.1 %. It did not increase LDL-C, had favorable effects on other lipid parameters, and had a tolerability profile similar to that of placebo. Therefore, icosapent ethyl is an effective and well-tolerated agent for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia in adults.
authors.affiliation: Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay 0754, Auckland, New Zealand, demail@springer.com.
authors.forename: Esther S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCormack
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; C035276:eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid