The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent covering the pharmaceutical composition of Amarin Corporation's Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) capsules based on US Patent Application Serial No. 12/769,885. On July 2, 2012, Amarin announced the issuance of a Notice of Allowance for claims under this application. The newly issued patent, US Patent No. 8,298,554, is titled "Highly Stable EPA in a capsule."

This issued patent has a term that expires no earlier than in 2030. Amarin plans to list this patent in the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDAs) Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, or Orange Book.

"This patent issuance represents another step forward in Amarin's effort to protect the commercial potential of Vascepa," said Joseph Zakrzewski, chairman and CEO, Amarin. Zakrzewski further added, "Amarin's goal is to protect the commercial potential of Vascepa to beyond 2030 through patent protection, regulatory exclusivity and trade secrets and by taking advantage of manufacturing barriers to entry."

Amarin now has eight US patents either issued or allowed as well as over 30 additional patent applications currently in prosecution in the United States. Amarin is also pursuing patent applications related to Vascepa in multiple jurisdictions outside the United States, including the application for Amarin's MARINE method of use patent in Europe for which Amarin has announced receipt of an Intention to Grant letter.

Amarin Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization and development of therapeutics to improve cardiovascular health.