Amarin, Lotus Pharma Collaborates to Commercialize Vazkepa in Southeast Asia and South Korea

Amarin Corporation plc, an innovative pharmaceutical company, and Lotus Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company, announced a long-term exclusive partnership to distribute and commercialise Vazkepa (icosapent ethyl) in ten countries, including nine in Southeast Asia (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN) and South Korea. Vazkepa capsules were approved and commercialised in several global markets, including the United States and Europe, as the first prescription treatment containing only the active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, a highly purified form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

"We are very excited to announce this exclusive partnership with Lotus, a leading pharmaceutical commercialization partner in Asia," said Patrick Holt, president and CEO of Amarin. "Lotus' strong commercialization capabilities and footprint across ASEAN markets and South Korea make them an ideal partner to help us expand patient access to Vazkepa -- an innovative treatment option to reduce cardiovascular risk -- across the region and fuel our international growth." "We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with Amarin," said Petar Vazharov, CEO of Lotus. This agreement is perfectly aligned with Lotus' strategic goal of bringing novel and transformative treatments to patients, and it allows us to further leverage our commercial infrastructure that we have built in key Asian markets." The ASEAN region and South Korea includes a total of 14 million statin-treated patients representing a total hyperlipidemia market of approximately $2 billion. The largest markets within the ASEAN region include Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in South Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, Lotus will have exclusive rights to distribution and commercial promotion for Vazkepa in South Korea and nine countries in ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

As part of the agreement, Amarin will receive an upfront payment as well as pricing and reimbursement and sales milestone payments based on net sales of the product. Amarin will be responsible for supplying finished product to Lotus at a pre-defined supply price. Vazkepa capsules are the first prescription treatment comprised solely of the active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, a highly purified form of eicosapentaenoic acid. Since launch, icosapent ethyl has been prescribed over 18 million times. In addition to the United States, icosapent ethyl is approved and sold in Canada, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates under the brand name Vascepa. Founded in 1966, Lotus is an international pharmaceutical company with global presence, focused on commercializing novel and generic pharmaceuticals, offering patients better, safer and more accessible medicines.