# 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. - **Patent:** US 8710041 - **Original title:** Compositions and methods for lowering triglycerides in a subject on concomitant statin therapy - **Owner:** Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd - **Granted:** 2014 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 13 - **Field:** pharmaceutical, biotech ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8710041/imbruvica-ibrutinib-formulation **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8710041 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. 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