Amarin's (AMRN 0.02%) new triglyceride-lowering drug, Vascepa, could have major advantages for patients over its main competitor -- GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK +0.00%) Lovaza -- since one of Lovaza's components has been associated with increasing LDL cholesterol, more commonly referred to as "bad" cholesterol. That could translate to major profits for Amarin should Vascepa reach the market, but the stock has stumbled recently due to delays in getting the NCE, or New Chemical Entity, status from the Food and Drug Administration. That has been tricky to get, since the main component of Vascepa is in fact part of Lovaza. In this video, Motley Fool health care analyst Max Macaluso sheds some light on why the FDA hasn't decided on Vascepa's status yet and what investors need to know going forward.
Science Amarin Investors Need to Know
By Max Macaluso and Brenton Flynn – Nov 9, 2012 at 1:54PM
NASDAQ: AMRN
Amarin Plc
Market Cap
$421M
Today's Change
(-1.88%) $0.38
Current Price
$19.87
Price as of October 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM ET
What's the reason behind the NCE delay?
About the Author
Max is the Technology, Biopharma & Health Care Bureau Chief at Fool.com. Prior to joining the Fool, he completed a PhD in chemistry at the University of Cambridge and an MBA at the College des Ingenieurs.
Follow @TMFMassimo