Icosapent Ethyl

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Vascepa

Pharmacological Mechanism

Ethyl ester of pure EPA (no DHA) — pharmaceutical grade ω-3. REDUCE-IT trial (2018) demonstrated 25% MACE reduction in statin-treated high-risk patients with elevated triglycerides. Mechanism beyond TG-lowering involves stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque + anti-inflammatory eicosanoid shift.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 72h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 4000 mg (Range: 1000–4000 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• cardiovascular
• immune-hematologic

Pathways It Modulates

• Atherosclerosis plaque pathology (inhibitor) — EPA-only — CV event reduction (REDUCE-IT 4 g/d on statin)
• LDL receptor + PCSK9 axis (activator) — EPA elevation → TG ↓ + anti-inflammatory

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 9831415
• Formula: C22H34O2
• Molecular weight: 330.51 g/mol
• InChIKey: SSQPWTVBQMWLSZ-AAQCHOMXSA-N
• SMILES: CC/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\CCCC(=O)OCC