Amarin Corporation plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:AMRN) has introduced a smaller capsule of its branded drug Vascepa. The new size is a half-gram (0.5-gram) capsule. The move now means that Vascepa is available in 1-gram and 0.5-gram capsule sizes.
It seems Amarin’s decision to offer Vascepa in a smaller capsule was a response to market demand. The company hinted the reduced size of the drug would eliminate the barrier that some patients may be facing in taking their doctor’s prescription of the medicine. Aaron Berg, the VP of marketing and sales at Amarin, noted that they are dedicated to listening to doctors and patients so that they can deliver solutions that enhance treatment outcomes.
Amarin said the alternative capsule of 0.5-grams is now available nationwide at retail pharmacies.
Dosing remains the same
Amarin insisted that despite offering an alternative capsule size of Vascepa, the FDA-approved dosing of the drug remains the same: four grams per day. That means that a patient takes two grams of the drug twice a day.
Despite cutting the size of Vascepa to increase the ease of consumption, Amarin said it believes the 1-gram size would continue to be the most popularly prescribed capsule size.
Amarin’s Vascepa will enjoy five-year marketing exclusivity until 2020. The company has seen growing prescriptions for the drug, a positive sign for its revenue potential. Amarin would of course like to squeeze the most out of Vascepa before the drug begins to face generic competition.
Fundraising for working capital and clinical trials
Amarin earlier this year raised about $64.6 million through equity offerings that saw the company sell more than 24 million shares. The management said the funds would be used for working capital and financing certain clinical trials, including the one dubbed REDUCE-IT.
Amarin stock is up more than 74% YTD. The company will release its 3Q16 earnings on November 2.