Vascepa is a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and is used to lower high triglyceride levels in adults. According to DrugPatentWatch [1], Vascepa is protected by patents that prevent generic versions of the drug from being produced until 2030. However, in September 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a generic version of Vascepa, which is expected to be available in the US in 2021 [2].

The effectiveness of Vascepa compared to generics is a matter of ongoing research. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019 found that Vascepa significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with elevated triglyceride levels [3]. However, the effectiveness of generic versions of Vascepa has not yet been extensively studied.

According to Medical News Today [2], the FDA has approved the generic version of Vascepa based on bioequivalence studies, which showed that the generic version had the same active ingredient and was absorbed by the body in the same way as Vascepa. However, it is important to note that bioequivalence studies do not measure the effectiveness of a drug in treating a specific condition.

In conclusion, while Vascepa is protected by patents until 2030, a generic version of the drug has been approved by the FDA and is expected to be available in the US in 2021. While bioequivalence studies have shown that the generic version of Vascepa is absorbed by the body in the same way as Vascepa, the effectiveness of the generic version in treating high triglyceride levels has not yet been extensively studied.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/VASCEPA
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-vascepa
[3] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1812792