Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) is a prescription medication approved by the FDA to lower triglyceride levels in adult patients. It is manufactured by Amarin Pharma Inc. Unlike other generic versions of drugs, Vascepa is not a generic itself, but a distinct chemical entity [1].
The key difference between Vascepa and other generic drugs lies in its active ingredient, icosapent ethyl. Other generic drugs are typically bioequivalent versions of brand-name drugs, containing the same active ingredients and providing the same therapeutic effects [2]. However, Vascepa's active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, is a unique, chemically-stabilized form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid [1].
Furthermore, Vascepa has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with elevated triglyceride levels, whereas generic drugs are only required to demonstrate bioequivalence and therapeutic equivalence to their brand-name counterparts [1][3].
In summary, Vascepa differs from other generics because it contains a unique active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, which has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Other generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts and are only required to demonstrate bioequivalence and therapeutic equivalence.
Sources:
[1] Amarin Corporation. (2021). Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) capsules. Retrieved from <https://www.amarincorp.com/products/vascepa/>
[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Generic drugs: Questions and answers. Retrieved from <https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-and-answers>
[3] Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, Brinton EA, Jacobson TA, Ketchum SB, et al. Cardiovascular risk reduction with icosapent ethyl for hypertriglyceridemia. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):11-22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1812797. Retrieved from <https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1812797>
[4] DrugPatentWatch. (2021). Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) - Amarin Pharma Inc. Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/vascepa>