Using Purified Fish Oil Derivatives to Lower Triglycerides Alongside Statins
A medical treatment method using a specific high-dose, purified EPA supplement to lower triglycerides in patients already taking statin medication.
Original patent title: “Compositions and methods for lowering triglycerides in a subject on concomitant statin therapy”
A medical treatment method using a specific high-dose, purified EPA supplement to lower triglycerides in patients already taking statin medication. Granted to Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd in 2014 with 17 claims and 13 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for treating patients who are already taking statins but still have elevated triglyceride levels between 200 and 500 mg/dl. The treatment involves a daily 4-gram dose of ethyl-EPA, a highly purified form of an omega-3 fatty acid. Crucially, the composition must contain no more than 4% DHA, another common omega-3, to ensure the specific therapeutic effect. By administering this for at least four weeks, the method aims to reduce triglycerides by at least 15% while also lowering LDL-C (bad cholesterol) and VLDL-C levels compared to patients taking statins alone.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover compositions containing more than 4% DHA by weight of total fatty acids.
- Does not cover treatments for patients with triglyceride levels below 200 mg/dl or above 500 mg/dl.
- Does not cover the use of standard, non-purified fish oil supplements that include high levels of DHA.
- Does not cover methods involving non-oral administration routes.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the extreme purification of EPA and the strict exclusion of DHA. Previous omega-3 supplements were often mixtures; this patent proved that removing DHA was essential to prevent the unwanted rise in LDL cholesterol that often occurs when taking conventional fish oil supplements.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Vascepa (icosapent ethyl)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is the foundation for the drug Vascepa, which became a significant commercial product for Amarin. It addressed a major clinical gap: many patients on statins still faced cardiovascular risks due to high triglycerides, and this provided a targeted, evidence-based way to manage those levels without the side effects or cholesterol-raising properties associated with some other omega-3 formulations that contain high levels of DHA.
Filed
February 23, 2012
Granted
April 29, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Amarin Pharmaceuticals remains the primary entity building on this technology, having secured FDA approval for Vascepa based on the clinical trials associated with these methods. Other pharmaceutical companies in the cardiovascular space monitor these claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → closely for potential generic competition or alternative formulations.
Market impact
This patent enabled the creation of a distinct market category for high-purity, EPA-only prescription therapies. It triggered years of intense litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more → and market competition regarding generic versions of icosapent ethyl, significantly shaping how doctors prescribe adjunctive therapies for patients with residual cardiovascular risk.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for treating patients who are already taking statins but still have elevated triglyceride levels between 200 and 500 mg/dl. The treatment involves a daily 4-gram dose of ethyl-EPA, a highly purified form of an omega-3 fatty acid. Crucially, the composition must contain no more than 4% DHA, another common omega-3, to ensure the specific therapeutic effect. By administering this for at least four weeks, the method aims to reduce triglycerides by at least 15% while also lowering LDL-C (bad cholesterol) and VLDL-C levels compared to patients taking statins alone.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the extreme purification of EPA and the strict exclusion of DHA. Previous omega-3 supplements were often mixtures; this patent proved that removing DHA was essential to prevent the unwanted rise in LDL cholesterol that often occurs when taking conventional fish oil supplements.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover compositions containing more than 4% DHA by weight of total fatty acids.
- Does not cover treatments for patients with triglyceride levels below 200 mg/dl or above 500 mg/dl.
- Does not cover the use of standard, non-purified fish oil supplements that include high levels of DHA.
- Does not cover methods involving non-oral administration routes.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
23/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$164K – $524K
Midpoint $328K · 5.7 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Manku, M., Braeckman, R., Osterloh, I., Soni, P., & Wicker, P. (2014). Using Purified Fish Oil Derivatives to Lower Triglycerides Alongside Statins (U.S. Patent No. 8,710,041). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8710041/imbruvica-ibrutinib-formulation
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Purified Fish Oil Derivatives to Lower Triglycerides Alongside Statins cover?
A medical treatment method using a specific high-dose, purified EPA supplement to lower triglycerides in patients already taking statin medication.
Who owns patent US 8710041?
Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2014.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 29, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8710041 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 13 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is the foundation for the drug Vascepa, which became a significant commercial product for Amarin. It addressed a major clinical gap: many patients on statins still faced cardiovascular risks due to high triglycerides, and this provided a targeted, evidence-based way to manage those levels without the side effects or cholesterol-raising properties associated with some other omega-3 formulations that contain high levels of DHA.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover compositions containing more than 4% DHA by weight of total fatty acids.
Patent monitoring